• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.980-988
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• 2022

The most common definition of postherpetic neuralgia is the presence of pain more than a month after the onset of the eruption of zoster. This case report suggests the effect of Korean medicine on postherpetic neuralgia. An 85-year-old male patient with postherpetic neuralgia was treated with a combination of Korean medical remedies. Kyung Hee Gongjin-dan and Hyangbujapalmul-tang-gagam were applied for 23 days. The Numerical Rating Scale was used to measure pain intensity. The Barthel Index and Beck Depression Inventory were used for the functional assessment and depression evaluation, respectively. After treatment, the patient's pain intensity decreased. Additionally, the patient's independence increased during activity, and the severity of their depression decreased. Thus, this case suggests that a combination of Korean medicine treatments might be effective for postherpetic neuralgia. In particular, it shows that Kyung Hee Gongjin-dan and Hyangbujapalmul-tang-gagam can be therapeutic options in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.127-135
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• 2009

Objectives : Gagam-Gongjin-dan (GGD) composited with Cervi parvum Cornu, Corni Fructus, Angelica gigantis Radix, Lycii Fructus, Dioscoreae Rhizoma, Citri Pericarpium, Gastrodiae Rihzoma, Agastachis Herba, Cassiae cortkex, Scutellariae Radix, Schisandrae Fructus has been traditionally used for chronic diseases or weakness after illness in oriental countries. However, little is known about the effects of methanol extract of GGD on immune responses to ovalbumin (OVA) plus alum. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of GGD on immune responses to ovalbumin plus alum in Balb/c mice. Methods : In this study, the extract of GGD was prepared by extracting with methanol for 7 days. The extract was freeze-dried following filtration through vacuum distillation system. Mice were orally administrated with or without GGD extract of different doses (50-200 mg/kg/day) for 30 days. We examined the effects of GGD extract on the serum levels of total IgE, OVA-specific IgE, IgG1, IgG2a, and CTACK/CCL27 production and CCR10 expression in lymph node cells and body weight change and foot pad swelling responses in ovalbumin treated Balb/c. Results : The oral administration of GGD dose-dependently reduced the serum levels of total IgE, OVA-specific immunoglobulin (IgE, IgG1 and IgG2b) and CTACK/CCL27 production in ovalbumin treated BALB/c mice. The levels of CCR10 expression from lymph node cells of OVA treated mice were markedly suppressed by treatment with GGD in a concentration dependent manner. Furthermore, foot pad swelling responses were also markedly suppressed by GGD. However, body weight were significantly increased dose dependently by GGD treatment. Conclusions : These results suggest that GGD treatment suppresses immune responses to ovalbumin, and these properties may contribute to allergic disease care.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.149-157
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• 2010

Objective：Gagam-Gongjin-dan (GGD) is an oriental medicinal prescription composited with Cervi parvum Cornu, Corni Fructus, Angelica Gigantis Radix, Lycii Fructus, Dioscoreae Rhizoma, Citri Pericarpium, Gastrodiae Rihzoma, Agastachis Herba, Cassiae cortex, Scutellariae Radix and Schisandrae Fructus. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of GGD extract against acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver injury in mice. Methods：GGD extract was prepared by extracting with methanol for 7 days. The extract was freeze-dried following filtration through vacuum distillation system. The first, we investigated the antioxidant effects of GGD extract on electronic donating ability (DPPH), nitrite (NO) scavenging and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity. The next, we investigated the possible hepatoprotective effect of GGD extract administration against acetaminophen-induced liver injury in mice. Mice were orally administrated with or without GGD extract of different doses (25-100 mg/kg/day) one times per day for 6 days. After 3 days, APAP was orally applied with a single dose (400 mg/kg). Results：GGD extract increased DPPH, NO and SOD-like activities in dose dependant. APAP treatment significantly increased aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities in plasma. Also, APAP treatment significantly evaluated lipid peroxidation product thiobarbituric reacting substances (TBARS) and depleted some antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, d-aminolevulinate dehydratase and gluthathione peroxidase activities) in liver homogenates compared to the control group. However, the orally administration of GGD extract was able to counteract these effects. Histological studies provided supportive evidence for biochemical analysis Conclusions：These results suggest that GGD extract has a potential antioxidant and hepatoprotective effect against APAP-induced liver injury, these properties may contribute to liver disease care.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.207-217
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• 2011

Objectives : In a previous study, we have shown that Gagam-Gongjin-Dan(GGD) has an inhibitory effect on the ovalbumin-induced immune responses and a hepatoprotective effect on actaminophen-induced liver injury in Balb/c Mice. However, the possible anti-inflammatory effect of GGD extract for inflammatory mediators was not reported. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate an inhibitory effects of GGD extract against lipopolysaccharides(LPS) induced inflammatory mediators in mouse peritoneal macrophages. Methods : GGD extract was prepared by extracting with methanol for 7 days. The extract was freeze-dried following filtration through vacuum distillation system. Accumulated nitrite, an oxidative product of nitric oxide(NO), was measured in the culture medium by the Griess reaction. The levels of prostaglandin $E_2(PGE_2)$, interleukin-$1{\beta}$(IL-$1{\beta}$), tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$(TNF-${\alpha}$) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) were measured by Western blot analysis. Results : GGD extract (50-$400\;{\mu}g$/ml) per se had no cytotoxic effect in LPS-stimulated peritoneal macrophages. GGD extract dose-dependently reduced NO, $PGE_2$, IL-$1{\beta}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$ production and COX-2 activity caused by stimulation of LPS. The levels of iNOS and COX-2 protein expressions were markedly suppressed by the treatment with GGD extract in a dose dependent manner. Conclusions : These results suggest that GGD extract has an anti-inflammatory effect against LPS-induced inflammatory mediators in peritoneal macrophages, these properties may contribute to inflammation disease care.