• CELLMED
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.11.1-11.5
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• 2015

Traditional East Asian Medicine (TEAM) prescriptions typically consist of several herbs based on the assumption that the herbs operate synergistically and/or cooperate on several related pathways simultaneously. This is a general concept that is widely accepted in TEAM, but it has not been tested systematically. To check this assumption statistically, we have text mined traditional Korean medicine text the Inje-ji(仁濟志, Collections of benevolent savings), a text that contains more than 5000 herb-cocktail prescriptions. We created herb-pairing network based on herb-herb pairing specificity and performed a systematic network analysis. Herbs were shown to be used selectively with other herbs and not randomly. Moreover, herb pairs were more specifically associated with symptoms than were single herbs. Single herbs and combinations of herbs specifically used for diabetes mellitus were successfully identified. As conclusion, herb-pairings in TEAM are not randomly constructed; instead, each herb was selectively used with other herbs. In terms of statistical significance, herb pairs were more specifically associated with symptoms than were single herbs alone. Collectively, these results suggest that it may be important to understand the interactions among multiple ingredients contained in herb pairs rather than trying to identify a single compound to resolve symptoms.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.117-126
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• 2007

Ginseng, the root of Panax species, a well-known herbal medicine has been used as a traditional medicine for thousands of years and is now a popular and worldwide used natural medicine. Ginseng has been used primarily as a tonic to invigorate weak bodies to help the restoration of homeostasis in a wide range of pathological conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, immune deficiency and hepatotoxicity. Although conclusive clinical data in humans is still missing, recent research results have suggested that some of the active ingredients ginseng exert beneficial effects on central nervous system (CNS) disorders and neurodegenerative diseases, suggesting it could be used in treatment of psychotic disorders. Data from neural cell cultures and animal studies contribute to the understanding of these mechanisms that involve inhibitory effects on stress-induced corticosterone level increasing and modulating of neurontransmitters, reducing $Ca^{2+}$ over-influx, scavenging of free radicals and counteracting excitotoxicity. In this review, we focused on recently reported medicinal effects of ginseng and summarized the possibility of its applications on psychotic disorders.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.650-654
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• 2007

Ginseng sikhye is a unique beverage containing medicinal ingredients and having the unique flavor of ginseng. In this study, changes in the sugar composition of ginseng sikhye were investigated during the saccharification process. The concentration of ginseng sikhye was varied and the sugar content analyzed during the process. The amount of ginseng powder was varied from 3% to 12% in a mixture of malt (20 g), steamed rice (400 g) and 0.2 mL ${\alpha}$-amylase (Teramyl). With increasing time and temperature during the saccharification process, the sugar content in the ginseng sikhy eincreased, reaching levels similar to commercial sikhye. However, based on analysis of free sugars, the maltose content in ginseng sikhye was over 4.3%, which was higher than for commercial sikhye. Therefore, ginseng sikhye shows excellent marketability quality.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.214-222
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• 2010

Many research results have indicated that many kinds of useful ingredients are rich in buckwheat, which have high nutritional values and medicinal properties, so, buckwheat has been cultivated around Asia and Europe. In this paper, genetic diversity of common and tartary buckwheat germplasms were studied based on morphological and molecular markers in order to provide useful information for conservation and utilization of buckwheat genetic resources. The length, width, thick, value and weight of the seed of the common and tartary buckwheat were measured and analyzed by the statistics methods. The result has shown that there are morphological variation both in common buckwheat and tartary buckwheat seeds collected from different regions. It also has shown that the morphological variation of tartary seeds was significantly correlated to geographical regions. The nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of the tartary buckwheat collected from different countries were cloned, sequenced and statistically analyzed. The data showed that ITS sequences were informative to analyze the phylogeny of the tartary buckwheat and the data also showed that the genetic distances varied among different tartary buckwheat seeds collected from different countries.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.1416-1422
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• 2009

To observe the difference and change of the efficacy and ingredient appearing according to whether semen zizyphi spinosae has been roasted and its extraction method, locomotor activity, anticonvulsant activity, sleeping effect of each hot water and UMPM low temperature extracts of roast and raw semen zizyphi spinosae were measured through animal tests. Roast semen zizyphi spinosae showed superior pharmacological efficacy than raw semen zizyphi spinosae. Also, hot water extraction method showed superior pharmacological efficacy than low temperature extraction method(UMPM) that uses ultrasonic waves and microwaves. In short, it was shown that herbal medicine's extraction method needs to maximize medicinal effects by trying optimum extraction methods according to efficacy by considering characteristics of each herbal medicine. Together, there's also the need for in-depth studies on water-soluble ingredients of semen zizyphi spinosae that may be extracted through full hot water extraction method.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.23-32
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• 2023

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly infectious respiratory disease caused by a severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). SARS-CoV-2 infection may cause clinical manifestations of multiple organ damage, including various neurological syndromes. There are currently two oral antiviral drugs-Paxlovid and molnupiravir-that are recognized to treat COVID-19, but there are still no drugs that can specifically fight the challenges of SARS-CoV-2 variants. Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor pyrin domain-containing-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is a multimolecular complex that can sense heterogeneous pathogen-associated molecular patterns associated with neurological disorders. The NLRP3 activation stimulates the production of caspase-1-mediated interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-18, and other cytokines in immune cells. Panax (P.) ginseng is a medicinal plant that has traditionally been widely used to boost immunity and treat various pathological conditions in the nervous system due to its safety and anti-inflammatory/oxidant/viral activities. Several recent reports have indicated that P. ginseng and its active ingredients may regulate NLRP3 inflammasome activation in the nervous system. Therefore, this review article discusses the current knowledge regarding the pathogenesis of neurological disorders related to COVID-19 and NLRP3 inflammasome activation and the possibility of using P. ginseng in a strategy targeting this pathway to treat neurological disorders.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.194-203
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• 2008

In this study, 3,301 domestic and foreign patents, established from 1980 to June, 2007, were reviewed in order to examine the technological trends in treating or preventing liver disease. Primary focus was placed on countries such as Korea, Japan, and the United States - the leading nations with regard to liver function research. This paper explores the systematic search that utilized a research-focused database and research analysts. Since the year 2000, Korea has demonstrated increased developments in the area of diet and liver disease, as shown by an increase in relevant patent caseloads and submissions especially for medicinal preparations containing compounds or reaction products with undetermined constitutions. In addition, there was up to a 29% increase in themarket share and the frequency of patent submissionshad increased. Japan has shown a similar trend to Korea with an increase in research, but has focused more on medical preparations containing active organic ingredients. In the United States, an increase in the number of patents was shown after the year 2000.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.565-571
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• 2005

This study was to develope health promoting and better quality of Kochujang. Three kinds of medicinal plants, Angelica acutiloba (AA), Akebia quinate decaisne (AQ), Caragana chamlagu (CC) were extracted with water. Hanbang Kochujang was prepared by adding water extracts of medicinal hem to the ingredients of Kochujang. Quality characteristics of Hanbang Kochujang were evaluated by its water content, color and sensory evaluation during storage at $5^{\circ}C$: and $20^{\circ}C$ for 90 days. Moisture contents of Hanbang Kochujang before storage were $33\~38\%$ and increased to $48\~51\%$ at the end of storage. Color values(L, a and b) of Hanbang Kochujang were decreased as the progress of storage period at $5^{\circ}C$ and $20^{\circ}C$. Redness (a) values of Hannbang Kochujang with Akebia quinate decaisne (KAQ) and Caragana chamlagu (KCC) were lower than that of control Kochujang (KC) during storage at $20^{\circ}C$(p<0.05). Yellowness(b) values of Hannbang Kochujang with Caragana chamlagu (KCC) was lower than that of control Kochujang (KC) during storage at $5^{\circ}C$(p<0.05). From sensory evaluation, preference was higher in Hanbang Kochujang (KAA, KAQ and KCC) stored at $20^{\circ}C$ than that stored at $5^{\circ}C$ during 60 and 90 days of storage. Sensory evaluation scores of color, sweet taste and overall preference were the highest in Hanbang Kochujang added Caragana chamlagu (KCC) during storage at $5^{\circ}C$ and $20^{\circ}C$ for 90 days (p<0.05).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.844-850
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• 2013

In this study, the optimal extraction conditions for three medicinal herbs as functional sources against inflammatory and arthritic diseases were developed. Traditional medicinal herbs were screened for their inhibition of hyaluronidase (HAse) activity and nitric oxide (NO) synthesis. For the screening of anti-inflammatory properties, ethanolic extracts of 53 species of traditional medicinal herb were examined. We confirmed that Astragalus membranaceus (A.R.), Schisandra chinensis (S.F.), and Platycodon grandiflorum (P.G.) inhibit NO production. For extraction from all three herbs simultaneously, an ethanol concentration of 95%, a 1:2:1 mixture ratio, and at 50 rpm mixing speed, for over 12 h and at $30^{\circ}C$ was the best condition for optimal extract yield and NO inhibition effects. HAse inhibition from the three herb extraction was three fold higher than single samples. The ethanol extracts were fractionated with various solvents (n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and water). The ethyl acetate-soluble fraction of the herb mixture showed the highest extract yield (13%) and NO inhibition effects (73%). In conclusion, this study provides experimental evidence that a mixture of P.G., A.R., and S.F. could be used as a source of antioxidant ingredients in the food industry.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Oriental Medical Informatics
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.82-129
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• 2011

"Beijijiufa" is a medical book republished by Sun Ju Qing in 1245. He compiled this book having added "Qizhumajiufa" and "Zhugejingyanbeijiyaofang" to the contents of "Beijijiufa" authored by Wen Ren Qi Nian. In "Beijijiufa" the author described treatment methods making use of moxibustion methods in connection with 22 cases of acute diseases. The author had collected the moxibustion methods used to treat acute diseases, which had been practiced by the medical practitioners of many generations, and quoted total 13 medical men's practices. In the book, the greatest parts of details were quoted especially from the writings of Sun Si Miao and Ge Hong, and this shows that the medical philosophies of both Sun Si Miao and Ge Hong were reflected onto "Beijijiufa". He had differed on his moxibustion practice: the size of moxa wool, the number of moxibustion treatment, and method of moxibustion for male and female were differed from one another according to the disease. As to the area of moxibustion, he chose the body parts around under four limbs and joints, and mostly used extraordinary acupoints rather than twelve main meridians. In his descriptions of finding meridian points, he did not describe it by its specific name of the reaction point, but explained the location of moxibustion points in detail through pictures. "Qizhumajiufa" is related to moxibustion method and prescriptions to treat surgical diseases, like skin boils or furuncle on the back, etc. He easily explained the method to find the meridian points for moxibustion treatment by using particular way through diagrams and pictures. Eight prescriptions he used were the collections among the historical practices of medical practitioners of many generations for skin boils which showed excellent therapeutic actions. In "Zhugejingyanbeijiyaofang", there are prescribed for 36 disease, also is the records of treatment methods for medical emergency which would be encountered easily in everyday life. As to therapeutic remedies, varied treatment methods, including the treatment by means of pasting and attaching medicinal substance to the spot, the treatment by means of mixing medicinal substance with alcoholic beverage, cleansing method, smoke inhalation remedy etc. were introduced. In "Beijijiufa" moxibustion was regarded as a top priority for treatment of acute disease, and the author strived to present remedies to the readers as easily as possible through 19 pictures. Regarding prescriptions, the author introduced diverse treatment methods with respect to various disease symptoms, and described the method to treat disease symptoms making use of medicinal ingredients which can easily be found in daily life. Likewise, "Beijijiufa" compiled by Sun Ju Qing was intended for clinical practice, and was indeed a medical book having been utilized for treatment of acute diseases in those days.