• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.15-27
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• 2021

Objectives : The processing of Pinelliae Tuber and Arisaematis Rhizoma is a crucial step to reduce the severe acrid irritation mainly due to the needle-like crystals (raphides). Ginger, alum and bile juice have been used as adjuvant materials for the processing. Methods : Bibliographic research on ancient processing and experimental processing was performed to investigate the toxicity reduction mechanisms of the processing with ginger, alum and bile juice. Results : Ginger has been a major adjuvant for the processing of Pinelliae Tuber, followed by alum and bile juice since Song (宋) and Myeong (明) dynasties, and Arisaematis Rhizoma has been mainly used as Damnamseong (膽南星). The raphides consisting of calcium oxalate, lectin, agglutinin and polysaccharides can induce acrid irritation and the inflammatory reactions. The lipophilic components in the ginger denatured the structure of raphides and 6-gingerol-contained ginger extract attenuated the inflammatory reaction. The calcium ion (Ca²⁺) of calcium oxalate was substituted to the aluminium ion (Al³⁺) of the alum, which damaged the calcium oxalate structure. Lectin attached to the surface of raphides was dissolved in alum solution and consequently its structure was denatured. The cholate in the bile juice formed the complex with the oxalate anion or the calcium cation. Moreover, the enzymes activated by Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium during the fermentation promoted the fragmentation of oxalate. Conclusion : The adjuvant materials damaged the raphides by denaturing or degrading the calcium oxalate, resulting in the reduction of acrid irritation. Further experimental studies would support the toxicity reduction mechanism of the processing.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.465-472
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• 2021

Background: Ginseng can help regulate brain excitability, promote learning and memory, and resist cerebral ischemia in the central nervous system. Ginsenosides are the major effective compounds of Ginseng, but their protein targets in the brain have not been determined. Methods: We screened proteins that interact with the main components of ginseng (ginsenosides) by affinity chromatography and identified the 14-3-3 ζ protein as a potential target of ginsenosides in brain tissues. Results: Biolayer interferometry (BLI) analysis showed that 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD), a ginseng saponin metabolite, exhibited the highest direct interaction to the 14-3-3 ζ protein. Subsequently, BLI kinetics analysis and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) assay showed that PPD specifically bound to the 14-3-3 ζ protein. The cocrystal structure of the 14-3-3 ζ protein-PPD complex showed that the main interactions occurred between the residues R56, R127, and Y128 of the 14-3-3 ζ protein and a portion of PPD. Moreover, mutating any of the above residues resulted in a significant decrease of affinity between PPD and the 14-3-3 ζ protein. Conclusion: Our results indicate the 14-3-3 ζ protein is the target of PPD, a ginsenoside metabolite. Crystallographic and mutagenesis studies suggest a direct interaction between PPD and the 14-3-3 ζ protein. This finding can help in the development of small-molecular compounds that bind to the 14-3-3 ζ protein on the basis of the structure of dammarane-type triterpenoid.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2021

Objectives: We studied for the adjustment of the patterns of 'The Diagnostic Tool for Climacteric and Postmenopausal Syndrome Pattern Identification (hereinafter CaPSPI)' (studyI) and the correlation between CaPSPI and Korean medicine doctors' diagnosis which was carried out without knowing the results of CaPSPI (studyII). Methods: The studyI followed the previous study method in 2018 (2018-3). The studyII was conducted from June 1, 2019 to July 10, 2020 with ◯◯ University Korean Medicine Hospital IRB's approval (2019-4). Doctors' diagnosis was conducted face-to-face with the subjects. Doctors' diagnosis was carried out based on the Kupperman's questionnaire, 'Diagnosis System of Oriental Medicine (hereinafter DSOM)' and four examinations (四診) records. The diagnosis was marked with 0 for 'no', 1 for 'somewhat', 2 for 'yes' and 3 for 'very yes'. The correlation between CaPSPI and the mean of doctors diagnostic scores were investigated statistically. Results: The studyI showed that heart-heat (心火) pattern was added. The Factor loading coefficient for heart-heat was 0.551 to 0.789, and the Cronbach's coefficient was 0.896. The studyII showed that the diagnosis (Kappa statistic) of two doctors showed statistically significant concordance (all eight patterns), with correlation of them were 0.3 or higher. And the correlation between the CaPSPI score and the mean of doctors' diagnostic score showed a statistically significant correlation, with liver qi depression (肝鬱) being the highest at 0.552 and dual deficiency of the heart-spleen (心脾兩虛) being the lowest at 0.301. Conclusions: Since the diagnosis results of CaPSPI showed a significant correlation with the diagnosis of Korean traditional medicine experts, it was believed that the CaPSPI results can be trusted and used for clinical purposes.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.61-68
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• 2022

Powdery mildew and two-spotted spider mite are detrimental to strawberry plants and are controlled with traditional pesticides. To accommodate consumer demand, eco-friendly methods of pest control are required. Strawberries were cultivated (in soil and in a hydroponic system) for two years, and ultraviolet B (UV-B) irradiation was used as an alternative pest control during the harvesting season. Three varieties were grown (Seolhyang, Kingsberry, and Durihyang), and four UV-B lamp/mulch (black, green, and light reflection sheet [LRS]) combinations were used during harvesting: UV-B+black or green mulch, UV-B+black or green+LRS, no UV-B+black or green, and no UV-B+black or green+LRS. In all varieties, powdery mildew was 65% more controlled when UV-B irradiation was used. The adult two-spotted spider mite density was lowest in the UV-B lamp+black or green+LRS treatments. Therefore, UV-B irradiation during the strawberry harvesting season could effectively control powdery mildew and two-spotted spider mite with little side effect on the plants.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.131-150
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• 2024

Objectives : The aim of this study was to perform network analysis and analysis using the K-HERB database on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), to verify the similarity between the derived networks and existing prescriptions, and to explore the possibility of developing new IBD prescriptions preliminarily. Methods : We conducted a comprehensive literature search on July 6, 2024, utilizing databases such as ScienceON, RISS, and OASIS. Clinical studies assessing the efficacy of herbal medicine in treating Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis were identified and compiled into a structured database. This dataset, which included related prescriptions and herbal formulations, was subsequently analyzed using NetMiner 4 for centrality and Louvain clustering analyses. We then compared the networks derived from the K-HERB database with existing therapeutic prescriptions to assess their similarity. Results : A total of 24 prescriptions and 66 herbs were identified across the surveyed studies on IBD. Paeoniae Radix Alba(白芍藥) emerged as the most frequently utilized herb for both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Prominent herb combinations included Paeoniae Radix Alba-Angelicae Sinensis Radix (白芍藥-當歸), Angelicae Sinensis Radix-Coptidis Rhizoma (當歸-黃連), and Coptidis Rhizoma-Scutellariae Radix (黃連-黃芩) for ulcerative colitis. Centrality analysis revealed that Poria cocos (茯苓) and Paeoniae Radix Alba (白芍藥) had high centrality in the Crohn's disease, while Angelicae Sinensis Radix (當歸) and Paeoniae Radix Alba (白芍藥) had high centrality in the ulcerative colitis, indicating their prominent roles within the networks. Cohesion analysis resulted in 7 networks for Crohn's disease and 16 networks for ulcerative colitis. After excluding networks with a single herb, three networks related to Crohn's disease and two related to ulcerative colitis were examined using the K-HERB database. Among the 14 derived prescriptions for Crohn's disease and seven for ulcerative colitis, all except Oryeong-san (五苓散) were non-traditional in the context of IBD treatment. Conclusion : This preliminary study may provide a basis for the understanding and application of herbal prescriptions for IBD based on network analysis and the K-HERB database.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.219-228
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• 2024

Pepper anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum spp., leads to a decrease in the quantity of pepper fruit production. Molecular diagnosis is crucial for rapid identification of pathogens and determination of fungicide resistance. However, the traditional process of isolating the pathogen, extracting genomic DNA, and analyzing the gene sequence is time-consuming, which delays rapid diagnosis. In this study, we introduced a method using conidia of Colletotrichum spp. instead of genomic DNA, eliminating the need for DNA extraction or special processing for diagnosis. To elucidate this method, sensitivity was assessed through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) tests using internal transcribed spacer-based primer pairs. Both PCR and qPCR tests showed that detection is feasible with just one conidia, with over 1,000 conidia yielding results comparable to approximately 1 pg of genomic DNA. For amplifying the cytochrome b gene for quinone-outside inhibitor fungicide susceptibility testing, detection from a single conidium is achievable, but a stable PCR product is obtained by increasing the number of cycles to 35. Additionally, the addition of 10% grinding fresh chili pepper paste to V8-Juicea gar medium, which is known for inducing conidia rapidly from the isolates, resulted in 3.2 to 6.0 times more conidia compared to the commonly used potato dextrose agar medium, enhancing the potential for swift testing. Taken together, this study presents a direct utilization of pepper anthracnose conidia through PCR or qPCR, offering a valuable technique for amplifying target genes, such as the minimum conidial amount and barcode genes, for molecular identification of anthracnose disease in pepper through PCR and qPCR analysis.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1579-1584
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• 2008

Anemia are often detected among many patients who are treated in oriental traditional medicine hospitals in Korea through blood tests which are taken to diagnose the patients' general state, and most of them are diagnosed to have iron deficiency anemia. This study amis the effect of herbal medicine on the RBC count, hemoglobin, hematocrits and indices of red blood cells such as mean corpuscular volume(MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin(MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration(MCHC), serum iron, and total iron binding capacity(TIBC) among patients who were treated in oriental medical hospital and diagnosed to have anemia through blood tests other than main symptoms. The subjects of this study were 29 patients(male 7, female 22, mean age: 56.24${\pm}$19.11years) who were chosen ones, they has below hemoglobin 12 gm/dL, serum iron 70 IU/L, MCV 80 fL on laboratory screening test when they first visits our hospital. As a result, the volume of red blood cell(RBC), hematocrit(HCT), and hemoglobin(Hb) in peripheral blood increased from $348.27{\pm}8.95{\times}10^5$ /UL, 28.82${\pm}$0.56%, 9.24${\pm}$0.22 g/dL to $375.62{\pm}9.11{\times}10^5$ /UL, 31.36${\pm}$0.68%, 10.31${\pm}$0.25 g/dL comparing before and after oriental medicine treatment. After the treatment, MCH, MCHC, and MCV also increased from 26.98${\pm}$0.84 Pg, 32.62${\pm}$0.45 g/dl, 79.26${\pm}$0.17 fL to 27.74${\pm}$0.74 Pg, 32.84${\pm}$0.33 g/dl, 84.15${\pm}$1.67 fL. There was statistically significant increase in MCH, MCV(P<0.05); however, there was no significant change in MCHC(P>0.05). The amount of iron in blood increased from 32.96${\pm}$4.20 ug/dL to 67.22${\pm}$7.18 ug/dL, which showed a statistically significant increase(P<0.05). On the other hand, TIBC decreased from 325.08${\pm}$13.97 ug/dL to 315.61${\pm}$18.79 ug/dL, which was not a statistically significant change(P>0.05). Like this, all the patients showed favorable results in anemia based on the measurements of indices of red blood cells except MCHC. According to the classification of herbal medicines, in strengthening energy group(補氣), replenishing blood group(補血), and replenishing both energy and blood group(補氣血), the volume of RBC, HCT, and hemoglobin showed significant increases. Furthermore, in herbal medicines strengthening blood(補血) and replenishing both energy and blood group(補氣血), serum iron also relatively increased compare to strengthening energy group(補氣).

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.488-493
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• 1998

In the preoperative evaluation before coronary artery bypass surgery, review of the coronary arteriogram is the most important step. Expected "normal" lumen diameter at a given coronary anatomic location is a basis for quantative estimation of coronary disease severity that could be more useful than the traditional "percent stenosis". The distribution and number of major coronary artery branches are determinants of number of bypass grafts needed. We reviewed the coronary artery anatomy in 174 adult patients who revealed no coronary pathology in angiographic studies done from September 1994 to June 1996. Quantative analysis was done in all cases by a single person using a Computerized System (Arripro 35ⓡ). The results were follows; 1) The mean diametre of left main coronary artery was 4.45 mm(range 2.74~6.72). The pattern of branching was bifurcation in 67.24%, trifurcation in 28.74% and quadrifurcation in 4.02% of the patients. 2) The mean diametre of left anterior descending artery was 3.17 mm(range 2.10~5.85), 2.79 (range 1.55~5.59) and 2.17 mm(range 1.37~3.81) in the proximal, mid, and the distal portions, respectively. The number of diagonal branches of left anterior artery was from one to four(mode=2). 3) The mean diametre of proximal and distal left circumflex artery were 3.17mm(range 1.74~4.89) and 2.19 mm(range 1.21~4.46). The number of obtuse marginal branches of left circumflex artery is from one to six(mode 2). 4) The mean diametre of proximal and distal right coronary artery, the posterior descending artery and the largest posterolateral branch were mean 3.51 mm(range 2.07~5.67), 2.09 mm (range 1.42~3.60), 2.09 mm(range 1.02~3.60) and 2.30 mm(range 1.39~4.39). 5) The right coronary artery dominant was 163 cases(93.68%) of the total 174 cases. 6) The large significant acute marginal artery was visualized in more than half of the people. half of the people.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.1133-1138
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• 2006

Smilax china root has been used as traditional medicinal remedy in China and Korea and reported to have various biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic and antimicrobial activities. In this study, the possibility of development as natural antioxidants of Smilax china root extracts was investigated. For the evaluation of antioxidant activity, aqueous- and 25% EtOH extract from Smilax china root were prepared and six different evaluation assay methods, i.e., measurement of total phenolics, radical scavenging effects on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), nitric oxide (NO) and nitrite $(NO_2)$, reducing power, and inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activity, were used. The total phenolics content of two extracts was high as the level of 36 mg of gallic acid equivalent per 1 g of dried sample tested. The radical scavenging activities of ethanol extract toward DPPH and NO were better than those of aqueous extract (p<0.05). The $NO_2$ scavenging activity of both extracts showed the highest value at pH 1.2 (98%). Especially, the $NO_2$ scavenging activities of EtOH extract were significantly stronger than those of aqueous one at pH 4.2 (51%) and pH 6.0 (32%), respectively. In the reducing power test, both extracts revealed higher ferric ion reducing activity than known antioxidant, vitamin C at the level of $0.05\sim0.1mg/mL$ (p<0.01). The 1 mL of aqueous and 25% EtOH extract showed effective inhibition activity on tyrosinase activity as 45% and 53%, respectively. Therefore, these results suggest that two extracts from Smilax china root may serve as useful natural antioxidants.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.205-223
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• 2010

In Korean Traditional Medicine(abbreviated to K.T.M.), hyperhidrosis and anhidrosis are the targets of the medical treatment. Furthermore sweating appearance is also one of the important symptoms which explain a particular situation of the patient in K.T.M. And at "Sanghanron(傷寒論)" which is a traditional chief clinical bible written by Jang Gi(張機) later Han dynasty(漢代) in China made full use of the various kinds of diaphoresis[汗法] as a main medical treatment with purgation therapy[下法] and emetic therapy[吐法]. So the sweat in itself not only is the disease, but also is one of the symptoms explain a disease pattern. This thesis inquires into "Hwangjenaegyeong(黃帝內經)" referring to sweat which is the origin of recognition to the sweat in K.T.M. Some theses similar to this research had been made progresses and already reported, but most of them have classified the contents into biology, pathology, diagnosis, treatment after the model of western medical theory. In the aspect of comparative studying with other literature and clinic practical using, we found characteristics of referring to sweat in "Hwangjenaegyeong(黃帝內經)". And we classify the characteristics into some categories as follows. 1. There are some terms which make a title including sweat and symbolize the characteristics, for example sweat of soul[魄汗], sweat of death[絶汗], sweat of streaming[灌汗], sweat of weakness[白汗], sweat of sleep[寢汗], sweat of bright and heat[炅汗], sweat of kidney[腎汗], sweat of escaping[漉汗], cold sweat[寒汗], sweat on the head[頭汗], hyperhidrosis[多汗], heavy sweat[大汗]. But there aren't spontaneous sweat[自汗] or sweat like a thief[盜汗] which are the normal terms referring to sweat in history of K.T.M. And there are several descriptions about sweat appearance such as sweating in half of body[汗出偏沮], sweating in the rear end and thigh and knee[汗出尻陰股膝], hyperhidrosis in the neck and aversion to wind[頸多汗惡風], hyperhidrosis in the head and face and aversion to wind[頭面多汗惡風], cannot stopping the sweating under head[頭以下汗出不可止], make a person sweat to one's feet[令汗出至足], sweating like escaping[漯漯然汗出], sweating like soaking[汗出如浴], sweating become moist[汗出溱溱], hardly escaping sweat[汗大泄], escaping sweating[漉漉之汗], sweat moisten the pores [汗濡玄府], ceaseless sweating like pouring[汗注不休] sweating like pouring and vexation[汗注煩心], damp with sweat[汗汗然], sweating spontaneously[汗且自出], removal of fever with sweat drying[熱去汗稀]. That can be divided into sweat region and sweat form. 2. There are detailed explanations of the principle of perspirations caused by hot weather, hot food, hard working and meeting damp pathogen. 3. There are some explanations of the principle of removing fever due to the excessive heat from internal and external body through sweating by replenishing the body fluid. And many descriptions about overcoming the febrile disease by dropping temperature through sweating and many diaphoresis for curing. 4. There are some descriptions about five Jang organs perspirations and attachment of five mucous body fluid to five Jang organs. 5. There are pathogenic progresses after sweating affected by the Six Atmospheric Influences and water. And detailed explanations of disease mechanism a sweat leading to another disease. 6. There are descriptions about various sweat absent situations.