• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.217-227
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• 2021

This study is a record of ethnomedicinal knowledge in Begumganj province focussed on medicinal plants and their local uses for primary health care. The aim was to document and preserve the ethnomedicinal knowledge used by traditional healers of Begumganj upazila, Bangladesh, to treat human diseases and evaluate the relative efficacy of the medicinal plants. The uses of medicinal plants were documented as an ethnomedicinal data sheet using direct observation, field interview, plant interview and group interview techniques from December 2012 to January 2014 in the study area. Data were collected from 98 traditional healers through a questionnaire survey and analyzed through informant consensus factor and fidelity level. This study revealed comprehensive relationship among various diseases and families, forms and parts of plants and modes of preparation. Overall, 75 plant species under 71 genera of 47 families were documented, which are used to treat 41 diseases. Data analysis revealed that 41.33%, 14.67%, 36% and 8% of the medicinal plant species were herbs, shrubs, trees, and climbers, respectively. Leaves were the most used parts, followed by stem, root, fruit, bark, latex and rhizome. The most frequently treated diseases were dysentery, rheumatism and skin diseases. This is the first ethnobotanical survey, which recorded the importance of medicinal plants in Begumganj upazila, Bangladesh. This study can contribute to preserving the indigenous knowledge on the traditional use of medicinal plants in this region and new drug development with attracting future generations towards traditional healing practice.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.39-46
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• 2020

Objective: In this study, we analyzed the trend of patents registered prior to October 4, 2019, to understand the industrial trends in insect-derived medicinal materials used for the treatment of skin diseases. Methods: Using the WIPSON database, we collected information regarding the patents related to insect-derived materials for treating various skin diseases. Results: The patents registered prior to October 4, 2019, from Korea, Japan, the USA, China, and the EU, along with those registered under PCT were selected. There were 195 patents related to the use of insect-derived medicinal materials in treating various skin diseases such as psoriasis, inflammatory skin diseases, eczema, pruritus, and atopic dermatitis. China is mostly superior in total number of registered patents compared with the other countries. Korea was the major patent technology-holder for atopic dermatitis, but China dominated in the remaining categories of skin diseases. Upon first patent registration in 1992, there had been a continual increase in the number of patents. Especially, patents related to eczema, psoriasis, inflammatory skin disease were markedly increased. Most frequently used insect-derived medicinal materials was Scolopendra, Cicadidae Periostracum, Scorpions, Cantharides, and Batryticatus Bombyx. The insect-derived medicinal materials were generally used as a combined preparation with other medicinal materials in patents. Conclusion: This study could help to establish the basis for future research and development related treating skin diseases using insect-derived medicinal materials. In order to provide sufficient data, further study including analysis of rejected patents is needed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.9
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• pp.1131-1138
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• 2009

In this study, the breads with medicinal herbs (MH) composites showing cognitive function were prepared and their characteristics were examined. Fifteen kinds of medicinal herbs were extracted with hot water and divided into 3 groups (MH-1, MH-2, MH-3) based on their contents. All groups showed cognitive function in terms of promoting muscarinic receptor, NMDA receptor and acetylcholinesterase inhibition. In the preparation of breads containing MH extracts of various contents (0, 10, 20, 30, and 50%), there were no significant difference among loaf weight of all groups, but loaf volume of all groups were significantly (p<0.05) decreased with increasing content of MH extracts compared to the control group. The "a" and "b" values of bread crumb increased with the content of MH extracts while "L" value decreased, but these values of bread crust were similar to the control group. The most improvements in hardness, fracturability, cohesiveness, gumminess and chewiness of bread were noticed by the addition of 10$\sim$20% MH extracts, while adhesiveness and springiness of bread were the most by the 30% addition ones. Through the sensory evaluation, it was revealed that appearance, mouth feeling, taste, overall preference and crumb texture of bread were not significantly different (p<0.05) between control and those with the 10% addition ones. Therefore the 10% addition ones, which got similar scores to control, will make the most desirable product.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.832-840
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• 2018

In this study, both of the concentration of benzo(a)pyrene in 5 species (total 50 samples) of medicinal herbs and their transfer ratios in the preparation steps of water extract(decoction) and soft extract, were measured by HPLC/FLD. The calibration curve of benzo(a)pyrene shows excellent correlation over the concentration range of 3~40 ng/mL with the correlation coefficient ($R^2$) of 1.000. The detected benzo(a)pyrene concentrations from the medicinal herbs ranged from non-detection to $37.54{\mu}g/kg$, and their average was $6.73{\mu}g/kg$. Among the total samples, 15 samples (i.e., 30%) exceeded the limit of herbal medicine benzo(a)pyrene criteria (i.e., $5{\mu}g/kg$) according to the notification No. 2009-302 from Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. In particular, the concentration of benzo(a)pyrene in Coptidis Rhizome was turned out to be the highest of $37.54{\mu}g/kg$. The detected benzo(a)pyrene concentrations from water extract(decoction), soft extract and remnant after boiling, ranged from non-detection to $2.31{\mu}g/kg$, non-detection to $2.28{\mu}g/kg$, and 2.18 to $21.91{\mu}g/kg$, respectively. In preparation of water extract(decoction) and soft extract, transferred benzo(a)pyrene was not detected or, if transferred, the maximal transfer ratios of benzo(a)pyrene were shown to be 8.9% and 9.8%, respectively. Therefore, the content of benzo(a)pyrene in the samples of herbal medicine used in this study, were reduced by more than 90% in preparation steps of water extract (decoction) and soft extract.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.135-154
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• 2014

Purpose: There is an issue in applying various principles introduced in established Korean medical classics to "Pharmaceuticals Approval, Notification and Review" of "herbal medicinal preparations" and "new drugs from natural products" that are used for western forms of medical treatment. Thus, an analysis of the origin, purpose, and application of established Korean medical classics in the Korean Pharmaceutical Affairs Act is essential. Methods: We collected data regarding the origin, purpose, and application of established Korean medical classics in the Korean Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, and classified them by periodical change and subjects. Results: Established Korean medical classics are applied as follows: 1) as criteria for Korean medicine distributors' sales of mixed herbal drugs (Pharmaceutical Affairs Act; since 1953), 2) as official compendiums for pharmacists' preparation of Korean medicine (Ministry of Health and Welfare's authoritative interpretation; from early 1970s to 1993), 3) as standards for oriental pharmacists' quality measurement of preparations (notification of the Ministry of Health and Welfare; since 1995), 4) as criteria for "Pharmaceuticals Approval, Notification and Review" of herbal medicinal preparations and crude drug preparations (notifications regarding drug approval process by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety; since 1978), and 5) as standards for the quality of materials of health functional food (from 2004 to 2011). Conclusion: The application of Korean medical classics has been closely related with the change of the laws, regulations, and systems that are relevant to Korean medicine, and it seems to be more favorable for pharmacists than oriental pharmacists. Meanwhile, regulations that apply prescriptions that are recorded in Korean medical classics - dosage, indications, and preparation methods - as criteria for the approval of crude drug preparations for western medical treatment should be abolished.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.213-219
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• 2013

This study was carried out to find out the optimum method of preparation of indigo standard solution and its stability, and to investigate the indigo contents in Niram, blue dye extract, from a total of 7 indigo plants and 34 breeding lines of Persicaria tinctoria H. Gross. Proper solvent for indigo standard was dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and appropriate concentration was 1 mg of indigo in 10 mL of DMSO. Absorbance value of UV/Vis Spectrophotometer at 620 nm of standard solution was changed decreasingly 12 hours after the preparation of standard solution irrespective of the storage conditions such as temperature and light. Average value of absorbance of 8-fold diluted standard solutions prepared daily during 16 days was $0.210{\pm}0.005$, indicating the powder of indigo compound was stable chemically. Calibration curve was made for quantitative analysis of indigo of 7 Niram samples, and indigo contents ranged from 0.69% to 18.76% showing relatively larger variation. Across all 34 breeding lines, the range of indigo content was from 7.9 mg to 56.4 mg per 100 g of fresh leaves, averaging 25.2 mg of indigo content and showing a 47.7% coefficient of variation.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.103-115
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• 2013

Objectives: This study proposes a new form of English translation in comparison with that shown in English books related to Sasang Constitutional medicine formulae which have been published up to now. Methods: This study formulated a new form of English translation guidelines by making a comparative analysis of the English translation cases listed in "Korean-English Dictionary of Oriental Medicine", "Longevity and Life Preservation in Eastern Medicine", and "Introduction to Sasang Constitutional Medicine". Results: This study as a common rules suggested that names of preparation form should be placed at the very end of the formula name and the first letters of the major words of the formula name should be capitalized. In addition, for the sake of accuracy in English translation of the formula name, this study divided the formula names into 8 types. The 8 sorts of types include: (a) Materia Medica + Preparation Form, (b) Materia Medica + Indication + Preparation Form, (c) Materia Medica Numbers + Preparation Form, (d) Indication + Preparation Form, (e) Concept + Preparation Form, (f) Concept + Materia Medica + Preparation Form, (g) Concept + Indication + Preparation Form, (h) Etcetera. In these types, medicinal herbs should be written in scientific name, and translation of indication can follow Noun+~ing participle form. In case of the terms having a Korean-medicine-based meaning, this study aimed for source-oriented translation. Conclusions: This study provides a general English translation method and examples of the formula names for Sasang constitutional medicine.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.169-172
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• 2011

Traditional medicines usually use combinational formula that is prepared by mixing different varieties of medicinal herbs and boiling them in water to yield a decoction. In recent years a modified method has been proposed and practiced wherein the individual herbs are boiled with water separately and later these extracts are mixed together for use. This practice has lead to a constant controversy concerning the chemical and biological equivalence between the preparations arriving out of these two methodologies. In this research, we attempted to study the effects of traditional and individual preparation of Ssanghwa-tang (ST) to evaluate their equivalence in terms of its antioxidant activity and polyphenol content. The study results indicate that the polyphenol contents as well as the extraction yields of these two preparations were very similar to each other.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.9
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• pp.1281-1287
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• 2012

In this study, soy milk jellys with medicinal herbs (MH) composites showing cognitive effects were prepared and their characteristics were examined. Eight kinds of medicinal herbs were extracted with hot water and added to soy milk based on their contents. Medicinal herbs showed cognitive effects, namely promoting acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition. In the preparation of soy milk jellys containing MH extracts of various contents (0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%), pH of all groups significantly (p<0.05) decreased with increasing MH extracts compared to the control group. The brix of the soy milk jellys was the highest in the 5% content of MH extracts among all groups. The "a" and "b" values of soy milk jellys increased with the content of MH extracts, while the "L" value decreased adding to the content of MH extracts compared to the control. The hardness, gumminess, and chewiness of soy milk jellys were improved the most by the addition of 15~20% MH extracts, while the fracturability, adhesiveness, springiness, cohesiveness, and resilience of soy milk jelly was not significantly different (p<0.05) among all groups. Through a sensory evaluation, it was revealed that the taste, texture, overall preference, flavor, and sweetness of soy milk jellys was not significantly different (p<0.05) among all groups. Therefore, since the addition of 20% MH extracts did not significantly alter the sensory evaluation, it can usually be adjusted to make soy milk jellys with cognitive effects.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.527-531
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• 2003

Hot-water extract from selected medicinal herbs of diabetes prescription was mixed with brown rice and pearled barley flours and extruded to prepare a reconstituted grain for diabetes millitus patients. Even though the cooked reconstituted grain containing medicinal herb extract was somewhat different from cooked ordinary rice in textural properties measured by texture analyzer, it was estimated to be organoleptically acceptable in sensory parameters. The reconstituted grain added with medicinal herb extract reduced the rate of dialysis of glucose evaluated by in vitro dialysis experiment. The effects of reconstituted grain diet on blood glucose levels in diabetes patients were studied during 3-week period. Compared to normal diet, the reconstituted grain diet for 2 weeks significantly decreased the fasting and 2-hr postprandial blood glucose levels in diabetes patients by 14% and 10%, respectively. These results suggested that the reconstituted grain could be used as an effective therapeutic diet for the control of diabetes mellitus.