• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.65-82
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• 2018

Objectives : The purpose of this study is 1) to explore the general tendency of the herbs or herbal formula for acne treatment in clinical practice 2) and to provide a basis for explaining the principles of acne treatment in Korean Medicine in order to make patients understand more easily based on pharmacological mechanism by analyzing the herbs or herbal formula using for acne treatment in clinical practice. Methods : In the domestic databases (Oriental medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System-OASIS, Korean Traditional Knowledge Portal-KTKP, National Discovery for Science Leader-NDSL, Research Information Sharing Service-RISS), we selected among the papers published using search terms related to "acne". Reports related to sasang constitutional medicine were excluded and a total of 23 papers were finally selected. Results : 29 prescriptions were retrieved from 23 papers. Chungan-tang (淸顔湯) notified formulas ranked first by Cheongsangbangpung- tang (淸上防風湯), Hwangnyeonhaedok-tang (黃連解毒湯), Dangguijakyaksan (當歸芍藥散) and Bipachungpe-eum (枇杷淸肺飮). Commonly used herbs are Forsythiae Fructus (連翹), Scutellariae Radix (黃芩), Gardeniae Fructus (梔子), Ligustici Rhizoma (川芎), and Angelicae Gigantis Radix (當歸). In most patients with inflammatory lesions or excessive flushing, exterior-releasing medicinal (解表藥) and heat-clearing medicinal (淸熱藥) were mainly prescribed for acne treatment, while in patients with acne accompanied hyperkeratinization, Excess sebum secretion, Dysmenorrhea or indigestion, qi-tonifying medicinal (補氣藥) or blood-tonifying medicinal (補血藥) were mainly used. KAGS (Korean Acne Grading System) was the most commonly used method for acne severity assessment. Conclusions : These findings suggest that the herbs or herbal formula for acne treatment in Korean Medicine is prescribed differently according to the cause and symptoms of acne in a unique way for control the whole body balance. Also, our findings could provide a basis for explaining the principles of acne treatment in Korean Medicine in order to make patients understand more easily based on pharmacological mechanism in clinical practice.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.145-156
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• 2023

Objectives : This study aimed to select candidate herbal medicines to be used in preclinical studies of cerebral infarction using the network pharmacology research method. Methods : Oral bioavailability (OB), drug likeness (DL), Caco-2, and blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability were employed in this study's network pharmacology analysis method to choose compounds with potential efficacy. The following formulas were utilized for the values of each variable used in this study: OB ≥ 20%, DL ≥ 0.18, Caco-2 ≥ 0, and BBB ≥ -0.3. The relationships between target proteins and diseases that are assumed to be involved in the chosen bioavailable chemicals were built in a network manner using the aforementioned factors, and proteins thought to play a significant role were identified. Results : Sudan III was obtained as a result of selecting compounds related to ischemic stroke in consideration of pharmacokinetic characteristics such as digestion and absorption and practicality using the TCMSP database. Medicinal herbs Gardeniae Fructus (GF) contains sudan III, and it was confirmed that compounds in GF were highly related to brain diseases, and the mechanism involved through the KEGG pathway was confirmed. GF, which has sudan III related to ischemic stroke and is also involved in other neurological diseases, is expected to be used for ischemic stroke treatment. Conclusions : GF has been predicted to have potential for ischemic stroke treatment, and can be used for future preclinical studies.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.61-73
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• 2008

Background: Yukmijiwhang-tang is one of the most common herbal formulas in Oriental Medicine. Yukmijiwhang-tang has been widely used as a herbal medicine to replenish Yin and tonify the kidneys for hundred years in Asian countries. Because of insufficiency in data, objective judgements about remedial effects have been difficult. In order to make objectivity diagnostic data, this research is developed. Purpose: The aim of the research is to make a pilot questionnaire for clinical use of Yukmijiwhang-tang. Methods: The questionnaire which includes symptoms and signs for Yukmijiwhang-tang is studied by the Delphi method. Results: By the Delphi method and score evaluation, 30 items of the initial copy of questionnaire are chosen for the research. Conclusions: By the Delphic survey among clinicians, a reference questionnaire for Yukmijiwhang-tang applications was suggested. Further research is necessary for modification of questionnaire by statistics and certification by clinical trial. research.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.183-189
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• 2022

Objective : This study aims to analyze the current use of body part terminology in Korean medicine formula data by comparing with ICD-11 body part terminology as a criteria. Methods : Body part terminology was extracted from the main treatment data within the Korean Medicine formula ontology and was analyzed in comparison with the ICD-11 body part terminology. Results : Out of 113 body part terminologies in Korean medicine, 92 were corresponded with ICD in a one-to-one, one-to-multi, or multi-to-one relation. Also, most body part terminologies were corresponded to superordinate concepts of ICD while 21 terminologies were not able to be corresponded to ICD. Conclusion : A majority of body part terminology in formula data could be corresponded to ICD but mostly refered to superordinate concepts. Results showed various types of corresponding relation which requires further study for precise and detailed correspondence. Also, study showed some terminologies were not applicable for correspondence which were mostly a unique body part concept of Korean medicine which requires further study to present Korean Medicine knowledge accurately in the language of ICD.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.1212-1242
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• 2023

Objectives: This study aims to explore the current usage status of orally administered Korean herbal medicine in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in the Journal of Korean Medicine and member journals using the CONSORT-Chinese Herbal Medicine Formulas 2017 (CONSORT-CHM 2017) checklist. Methods: We searched the OASIS, RISS, and KMBASE archives as well as the websites of the Journal of Korean Medicine and 45 member journals to identify RCTs that used herbal interventions. Two independent researchers searched and categorized the RCTs and performed a quantitative evaluation by journal, study design, and target disease, as well as qualitative evaluation of the literature using CONSORT-CHM 2017. Results: After the search, 66 articles were selected. The quantitative evaluation resulted in 13 articles (19.6%) that were published in the Journal of Korean Medicine and 12 articles (18.1%) in the Journal of Internal Korean Medicine. In terms of study design, 62 articles (93.9%) were parallel, 4 articles (6%) were crossover, and 2-arm parallel study designs were the most common in 45 articles (68.2%). In terms of the study participants, physiological characteristics and mechanisms in healthy individuals were the most common in 21 studies (31.8%) and obesity in 9 studies (13.6%). In terms of assessing completeness in the CONSORT-CHM 2017 items, 29 articles were rated high, 31 were rated moderate, and 6 were rated low. Items 4a, 6a, and 7a had low reporting rates (≤ 30%), while items 2a, 2b, and 12a were completely reported in all studies. Conclusion: Future RCTs using orally administered Korean herbal medicine need to be reported completely, and the CONSORT-CHM 2017 checklist can be a helpful tool for this purpose.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.1-13
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• 2017

Objectives : This paper serves to explore current trends of systems biology in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and examine how it may influence the Traditional Korean medicine. Methods : Literature review method was collectively used to classify Introduction to systems biology, diagnosis and syndrome classification of systems biology in TCM perspective, physiotherapy including acupuncture, herbs and formula functions, TCM systems biology, and directions of academic development. Results : The term 'Systems biology' is coined as a combination of systems science and biology. It is a field of study that tries to understand living organism by establishing a theory based on an ideal model that analyzes and predicts the desired output with understanding of interrelationships and dynamics between variables. Systems biology has an integrated and multi-dimensional nature that observes the interaction among the elements constructing the network. The current state of systems biology in TCM is categorized into 4 parts: diagnosis and syndrome, physical therapy, herbs and formulas and academic development of TCM systems biology and its technology. Diagnosis and syndrome field is focusing on developing TCM into personalized medicine by clarifying Kidney yin deficiency patterns and metabolic differences among five patterns of diabetes and analyzing plasma metabolism and biomarkers of coronary heart disease patients. In the field of physical therapy such as acupuncture and moxibustion, researchers discovered the effect of stimulating acupoint ST40 on gene expression and the effects of acupuncture on treating functional dyspepsia and acute ischemic stroke. Herbs and formulas were analyzed with TCM network pharmacology. The therapeutic mechanisms of Si Wu Tang and its series formulas are explained by identifying potential active substances, targets and mechanism of action, including metabolic pathways of amino acid and fatty acid. For the academic development of TCM systems biology and its technology, it is necessary to integrate massive database, integrate pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, as well as systems biology. It is also essential to establish a platform to maximize herbal treatment through accumulation of research data and diseases-specific, or drug-specific network combined with clinical experiences, and identify functions and roles of molecules in herbs and conduct animal-based studies within TCM frame. So far, few literature reviews exist for systems biology in traditional Korean medicine and they merely re-examine known efficacies of simple substances, herbs and formulas. For the future, it is necessary to identify specific mechanisms of working agents and targets to maximize the effects of traditional medicine modalities. Conclusions : Systems biology is widely accepted and studied in TCM and already advanced into a field known as 'TCM systems biology', which calls for the study of incorporating TCM and systems biology. It is time for traditional Korean medicine to acknowledge the importance of systems biology and present scientific basis of traditional medicine and establish the principles of diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases. By doing so, traditional Korean medicine would be innovated and further developed into a personalized medicine.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.72-80
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• 2013

Objectives : Ontology is a good tool to represent the knowledge and has developed for Traditional Korean Medicine(TKM) in Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine. There are a lot of TKM terms, which have a complex meaning, especially major indication terms of medicinal treatment and terms of symptom and disease. These complex meaning terms result in the low linkage between major indication terms of medicinal treatment and terms of symptom and disease in TKM ontology. We studied to enhance the percentage of the linkage among those data in TKM ontology. Methods : We disassembled major indication terms of medicinal treatment into minimum meaning units and then linked them to enhance the percentage of the linkage among medicinal material, formula and disease ontology based on Traditional Korean Medicine. To retain objectivity, several experts of Korean Medicine used a web-based tool that supports users in refining terms and disassembling them into the minimum meaning efficiently. Results : The outcome shows that the percentage of the linkage among medicinal material, formula and disease ontology increased. By linking disassembled major indication terms to symptoms and diseases, the amount of information for medicinal materials and formulas also increased quantitatively in comparison with given formula for diseases in disease ontology. Conclusions : By this study, disassembled data increases the percentage of linkage between diseases and medicinal treatments. And the applicability of TKM ontology is also increased.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.85-96
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• 2017

Objectives To summarize and evaluate the efficacy of traditional Chinese herbal medicine (TCHM) treatment for antibiotic associated diarrhea (AAD). Methods Eight electronic databases were searched from their inception to August 2017. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the efficacy of TCHM treatment for AAD were included. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool. Data analysis was performed using RevMan software version 5.3. Results Seventeen RCTs involving 1138 patients with AAD were included for qualitative synthesis. TCHM treatment improved total effective rate (TER). However, the results that TER in experimental group was significantly higher than in control group were different between the included studies. TCHM enema treatment improved TER, but not significantly higher than control group. The most frequently used herbal formulas were Gamiwekwanjeon, Gamiinsampaedoksan, and Samryungbaekchulsan. The most frequently used TCHMs were Atractylodes macrocephala (Bai Zhu), Dioscorea batatas (Shan Yao). Within the studies documenting the adverse events, no serious adverse events associated with TCHM treatment were observed. Conclusions Evidence of TCHM treatment efficacy for AAD is encouraging, but not conclusive, because of the low methodological qualities, diversity of TCHM treatment prescriptions. Further well-designed RCTs with rigorous randomization and blinding method are needed to confirm these results.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.812-817
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• 2012

In "The region of the body in which abdomen pain manifests(腹痛有部分)" of "Dongeuibogam(東醫寶鑑)", the abdomen is divided into the upper abdomen(大腹), umbilicus area(臍腹) and lower abdomen(小腹), which are in turn assigned to 3 Yins of greater yin(太陰), lesser yin(少陰) and reverting yin(厥陰) respectively to explain the causes and treatments of abdomen pain according to their locations. Meanwhile, the present Korean medicine tends to issue herbal formula without considering the cause of regional abdomen pain and the aspect of cold and heat(寒熱), deficiency and excess(虛實) in the symptom. This fragmentary treatment may bring out a serious failure. For the correction of this problem, the literature study on "The region of the body in which abdomen pain manifests(腹痛有部 分)" of "Dongeuibogam(東醫寶鑑)" was carried out to obtain the following conclusions. In "The region of the body in which abdomen pain manifest (腹痛有部分)" of "Dongeuibogam(東醫寶鑑)", it turned out that the use of herbal formula for the abdomen pain was the integrated one of herbal formulas for the abdomen pain in the external contraction such as cold damage yin condition(傷寒陰證) and cold in the middle condition(中寒證) and that the cause of abdomen pain was the explanation of diverse internal causes for the abdomen pain. And it was also found that the assignment of the upper abdomen(大腹), umbilicus area(臍腹) and lower abdomen(小腹) to 3 Yins had the locational and meridian meanings of 3 Yins according to internal causes and external contraction to get the basis of abdomen pain treatment in dividing it into 3 Yins.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.67-83
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• 2022

Objectives : In this study, the anticancer activity of water extracts of three herbal medicine formulas, Bigihwan (BGH), Daechilgitang (DCGT) and Mokwhyangbinranghwan (MHBRH) listed in Donguibogam, was evaluated in HepG2 cells, a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line. Methods : We investigated whether the cell viability of HepG2 cells was inhibited by the treatment of water extracts of three prescriptions, and whether their viability inhibitory effect was related to the induction of apoptosis. In addition, the role of autophagy on the induction of apoptosis by the treatment of these extracts was investigated. Results : The anticancer activity of the three water extracts on HepG2 cells was due to induction of apoptosis, not necrosis. Among them, BGH activated the caspase-dependent intrinsic apoptosis pathway associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. However, autophagy was induced more than 2-fold in DCGT-treated HepG2 cells, and the anticancer activity of DCGT was enhanced 1.5-fold in the presence of an autophagy inhibitor, but was attenuated in BGH and MHBRH-treated cells. Conclusion : The results of this study indicate that DCGT-induced autophagy was involved in the inhibition of apoptosis, whereas autophagy by BGH and MHBRH was related to induction of apoptosis.