• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.143-146
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• 2011

Scutellariae Radix is widely used in the traditional herbal medicine for the treatment of fever, cough, dysentery, hepatitis and hypertension in Korea, China and Japan. In this study, we investigated the effects of 70% ethanolic extract of Scutellariae Radix (SRE) on CYP450-mediated drug metabolism in the in vitro systems using human liver microsomes and hepatocytes. The microsomal incubation assay showed that SRE inhibited the drug metabolism reactions catalyzed by CYP1A2, CYP2C8 and CYP2C9 in a dose-dependent manner. In particular, SRE was shown to strongly inhibit the metabolic activity of CYP1A2 with an $IC_{50}$ value of 4.6 ${\mu}g/mL$. When SRE was evaluated for its effect on the induction of CYP450 enzyme activities in cryopreserved human hepatocytes, SRE did not exhibit any effect.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.1-8
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• 2010

Objective: The study aimed to review all randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) performed in Korea with herbal medicine, to produce further useful information for herbal-drug development. Methods: All papers reporting RCT with herbal drugs were collected via public database of Korea Science and Technology Integration Services, and various Oriental medicine journals. Then, the clinical question, herbal medicine, result, RCT design, and its conductor were analyzed. Results: A total of 20 RCTs were finally selected, and most of them were performed after 2003. The main subjects of RCT were related to heart and blood circulation, dermatitis, respiration disorder, Sasang constitution, or psychiatric disorders. Eight RCTs were done with a single herb while 12 RCTs were with multiple herbal formulae. In particular, three RCTs for atopic dermatitis with three formulae showed positive results. The quality of RCT was considered as better than average. Conclusions: This study revealed the current status of RCT using herbal drugs. This result would provide helpful information for research and drug development using traditional herbal medicine.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 2008

In the Indian traditional medicine, Lippia nodiflora (Verbenaceae) whole plant is claimed to possess powerful diuretic activity. However, the diuretic potential of this plant is not yet investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diuretic potential of methanol extract of Lippia nodiflora (MELN) in rats. Control (0.9% saline solution, 25 ml/kg, b.w) or urea (1 g/kg b.w) or frusemide (5 mg/kg b.w) and different concentrations of MELN (200 and 400 mg/kg b.w) were intraperitoneally administered (n = 6 per each treatment group) to hydrated rats and their urine output was monitored over a period of 5 h and 24 h after drug administration. The diuretic responses with its electrolyte excretion potency of the extract were highly remarkable in comparison with control animals. The extract at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg shows a significant increase in volume of urine with increase in $Na^{+}$, $Ca^{2+}$ and $Cl^{-}$ excretion accompanied by the excretion of $K^{+}$ in dose dependent manner. This study suggests that the active component(s) in MELN had similar diuretic effect to that of frusemide. These results validate the traditional use of Lippia nodiflora as a diuretic agent.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.779-784
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• 2013

Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonosis of global concern caused by Leptospira interrogans. The availability of ligand libraries has facilitated the search for novel drug targets using chemogenomics approaches, compared with the traditional method of drug discovery, which is time consuming and yields few leads with little intracellular information for guiding target selection. Recent subtractive genomics studies have revealed the putative drug targets in peptidoglycan biosynthesis pathways in Leptospira interrogans. Aligand library for the murD ligase enzyme in the peptidoglycan pathway has also been identified. Our approach in this research involves screening of the pre-existing ligand library of murD with related protein family members in the putative drug target assembly in the peptidoglycan biosynthesis pathway. A chemogenomics approach has been implemented here, which involves screening of known ligands of a protein family having analogous domain architecture for identification of leads for existing druggable protein family members. By means of this approach, one murC and one murF inhibitor were identified, providing a platform for developing an anti-leptospirosis drug targeting the peptidoglycan biosynthesis pathway. Given that the peptidoglycan biosynthesis pathway is exclusive to bacteria, the in silico identified mur ligase inhibitors are expected to be broad-spectrum Gram-negative inhibitors if synthesized and tested in in vitro and in vivo assays.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 1978

Alcohol extracts of plants widely used in the traditional medicine have been tested to establish if they affect the metabolism of drug in mice. Forteen of the plants tested exhibited prolonging and/or inhibitory effect on hexobarbital sleeping time. Some of them also showed increasing effect on strychnine mortality, whereas piperis retrofracti Fructus reduced the toxicity of strychnine.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2008

Objectives: To grasp the traditional stream of cancer treatment inherited from the previous doctors. Methods: The author's research has been performed cancer treatment based on JIJU(積聚) taking the original text as a reference. Results & Conclusion: The general three outlines and five detailed rules of cancer treatment have been obtained as follows. The first outline of cancer treatment is that reinforced vital function makes cancer reduce naturally. the second is that Harmless cancer can coexist in human beings and aging with them. and the third is that Elimination and reinforcing therapies should be executed in appropriate era and those therapies should utilize appropriate methods. The first detailed rule of cancer treatment is when using reinforcing therapy, it must applicate mildly and when using elimination therapy, it must applicate calmly. The second detailed rule is that the methods of cancer treatment are different from each cancer stage. The concentration should be made on reinforcing therapy at early stage while reinforcing and elimination therapies must be conducted together at middle stage. At terminal stage reinforcing therapy is the sole method to be taken. The third detailed rule is that the basis property of cancer drug is warm nature and extremely biased property should be avoided and when complication arises (eg. inflamatory disease, cancer fever, etc), cold or cool nature can be applied. The fourth detailed rule is that Cancer drug must have the effect eliminating the blood stasis, phlegm and excessive fluid, all together. The fifth detailed rule is that Physicians have to control patient's stress or stress related symptom and teach patients about right way of taking care of themselves and patients should take hygienic rules with their free will by themselves (eg diet, exercise, stress, etc)

• CELLMED
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.9.1-9.10
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• 2013

In traditional systems of medicine including homeopathy, the Condurango extract (Con) is often used to cure stomach cancer mainly, without having any scientific validation of its anti-cancer ability. Con has therefore been tested against non-small-cell lung cancer cells (NSCLC) A549 and NCI-H522 (H522) known to contain the KRAS mutation, making them resistant to most chemotherapeutic agents. As cancer cells generally defy cytotoxicity developed by chemopreventive agents and escape cell death, any drug showing the capability of preferentially killing cancer cells through apoptosis is worth consideration for judicious application. A549 and H522 cells were exposed to $0.35{\mu}g/{\mu}l$ and $0.25{\mu}g/{\mu}l$ of Con, respectively, for 48 h and analysed based on various protocols associated with apoptosis and DNA damage, such as MTT assay to determine cell viability, LDH assay, DNA fragmentation assay, comet assay, and microscopical examinations of DNA binding fluorescence stains like DAPI, Hoechst 33258 and acridine orange/ethidium bromide to determine the extent of DNA damage made in drug-treated and untreated cells and the results compared. Changes in mitochondrial membrane potential and the generation of reactive oxygen species were also documented through standard techniques. Con killed almost 50% of the cancer cells but spared normal cells significantly. Fluorescence studies revealed increased DNA nick formation and depolarized membrane potentials after drug treatment in both cell types. Caspase-3 expression levels confirmed the apoptosis-inducing potential of Con in both the NSCLC lines. Thus, overall results suggest considerable anticancer potential of Con against NSCLC in vitro, validating its use against lung cancer by practitioners of traditional medicine including homeopathy.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.13-22
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• 2006

Background and Aims: Herbal drugs and traditional medicines have lately attracted considerable attention by global pharmaceutical corporations because the conventional chemical drugs didn't work well for many chronic diseases or intractable diseases. The government of Korea is also supporting to develop the new drug which is high value added product, and the natural medicine including herbal medicine(or Traditional Korean Medicine) have a significant presence in this field. non-clinical pharmacology/toxicology study and clinical trial are the two major criteria which estimate efficacy and safety for registration of new drugs. All of the pharmaceutical companies producing herbal medicine and the academic and the academic world of Tradition Korean Medicine have the will to develop new herbal drugs, but there are obstacles that they have neither experience nor guideline about clinical trial. Therefore for developing new herbal drugs, it is necessary to research the present conditions and comprehensive systems about clinical trial in Northeast Asian countries China, Taiwan and Japan because they have the common background with Korea in traditional medicine fields. Methods : The present state of clinical trial for herbal medicine in Korea was investigated. And then, those in China, Taiwan, Japan was also investigated. Results and conclusions : There are significant differences among 4 Southeast Asian countries Korea, China, Taiwan and Japan each in present condition, purpose, involved comprehensive system including legislation, and actual operation of clinical trial for traditional medicine.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.187-197
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to find a reasonable solution to a current status of drug classification between the drugs of western conventional (allopathic) medicine and Korean medicine. A clear and distinct concept on the drugs of allopathic medicine and Korean medicine based on reasonable concepts and broad consensus is a pressing issue in Korea, and will facilitate the development of herbal medicinal products and pharmaceutical industry. Methods : Considering the issue of drug classification from domestic and international regulations, we reviewed the current Drug Law of Korea and China, Guidance for Industry, Botanical Drug Products of USA, Directive 2004/24/EC of the European parliament and of the council. Results : In Korea, the drug classification of allopathic medicine and Korean medicine is quite vague even though differential licensure system is enforced for the clinicians of allopathic medicine and Korean medicine field. According to the definition in the Drug Law, the scope of Korean medicine drug is so broad that even a drug made of single-compound material, as well as herbal extract of crude mixture, is regarded as a drug of Korean medicine, as long as the material may be separated from medicinal herbs, animal tissues, or mineral resources. Only new compound not found in natural resources are outside of the scope of Korean medicine drug. In USA and EU, medicinal products manufactured from herbs are approved by separate regulations for the herbs with special waivers. In China, the category of new medicine and the definition of allopathic medicine and traditional chinese medicine are clearly specified and classified. Conclusions : As medicines are validated therapeutic materials for efficacy and toxicity, we suggest that generally the concept of conventional medicines is based on a single compound that has been synthesized and individually validated and that of Korean medicines is based on a compound extracted from natural materials or a complex of compounds that has been validated as a whole in its totality.

• KIPS Transactions on Software and Data Engineering
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2022

De novo drug design is the process of developing new drugs that can interact with biological targets such as protein receptors. Traditional process of de novo drug design consists of drug candidate discovery and drug development, but it requires a long time of more than 10 years to develop a new drug. Deep learning-based methods are being studied to shorten this period and efficiently find chemical compounds for new drug candidates. Many existing deep learning-based drug design models utilize recurrent neural networks to generate a chemical entity represented by SMILES strings, but due to the disadvantages of the recurrent networks, such as slow training speed and poor understanding of complex molecular formula rules, there is room for improvement. To overcome these shortcomings, we propose a deep learning model for SMILES string generation using variational autoencoders with self-attention mechanism. Our proposed model decreased the training time by 1/26 compared to the latest drug design model, as well as generated valid SMILES more effectively.