• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.37-46
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• 2021

Objective : This study aims to examine the effectiveness and safety of herbal medicines in upper respiratory tract infection by conducting systematic review against amoxicillin. Methods : Relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published by December 2020 were searched in PubMED database. Study selection was conducted according to the PRISMA guideline. The Risk of Bias of the RCTs were evaluated based on the Cochrane criteria. Study selection and bias assessment were conducted independently by two researchers, and the third party was involved if there is a disagreement. Results : Three RCTs were included. Meta-analysis was not performed due to different specific disease and outcome measurements among the included studies. Herbal medicine showed statistically significant improvement in symptoms and endoscopic findings compared to amoxicillin in acute rhinosinusitis. In addition, herbal medicine showed statistically significant improvement in symptoms and a smaller dose of additional antibiotics in acute tonsillitis. However, herbal medicine showed no significant effects compared to amoxicillin in chronic sinusitis patients after functional endoscopic sinus surgery. In terms of adverse events, no significant difference was observed between the herbal medicine group and the amoxicillin group in all studies. Conclusion : Herbal medicine might be more effective than amoxicillin in the treatment of upper respiratory tract infection. Nevertheless, it is hard to clear that conclusion due to the fact that the collected studies were conducted on different specific diseases and herbal medicine, and that the included studies had flaws in the research methodology.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.45-49
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• 2005

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the free radical scavenging ability and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity of a complex herbal bath consisted of Artemisiae argyi folium, Angelicae sinensis radix, Ligustici wallichii radix and Angelicae tuhuo radix, and its potential irritation response were also tested for safety use in the rabbits. For antioxidative activity, the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity of the complex herbal bath were examined at five different concentrations (0, 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 ㎍/ml). The concentration of the complex herbal bath required for scavenging DPPH free radical by 50% was 897.2 ㎍/ml. In the inhibition of xanthine oxidase (XO) activity, the concentration of the complex herbal bath required for 50% of inhibition was 221.4 ㎍/ml. In the skin irritation study in rabbit, all animals survived for the duration of the study and the examined skin exhibited no edema, erythema, and eschar formation. In the ocular irritation study in rabbit, after application of the sample to eyes, all of the eyes were normal. In summary, the complex herbal bath has potent antioxidant effects against the DPPH radical and XO and was considered to be a non-irritation bath for safety use.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.9-18
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• 2018

Objective : Many patients take antihypertensive drugs as well as herbal medicines at the same time in order to treat other symptoms or to keep their well-being. In this study, interactions between herbal medicines and synthetic antihypertensive drugs were analyzed. Methods : To investigate the interaction between herbal medicines and synthetic antihypertensive drugs, three electronic databases, including OASIS, Mediline and Sciencedirect were searched. Experimental and clinical studies on the interaction between herbal medicines and antihypertensive drugs were independently reviewed and included. Results : Analyzing selected studies, twenty herbs were found to interact with antihypertensive drugs. Herbs found to increase the antihypertensive effect were Panax ginseng, Carthamus tinctorius, Magnolia officinalis, Silybum marianum, Scutellaria baicalensis, Schisandra chinensis, Sophora flavescens, Piper nigrum, Curcuma longa, Ginkgo biloba, Juncus effuses and Hydrastis canadensis. In contrast, Commiphora myrrha, Rhodiola rosea, Hypericum perforatum, Eurycoma longifolia, and Daturae metel were found to inhibit the antihypertensive effect. Stephania tetrandra could increase or decrease the effect depending on the type of antihypertensive drug. Epedria sínica was suspected of pharmacodynamic interaction with antihypertensive drug. Glycyrrhiza uralensis has been reported to have serious side effects in combination with antihypertensive drugs. Conclusion : These results imply that when used in combination with herbal medicines and synthetic antihypertensive drugs, proper doses and herbs which are to avoid need to be informed to the patients. Despite concerns about interactions between herbal medicines and synthetic drugs, related research is very limited. More systematic researches are needed to give information on patient safety as well as to guide clinical practice.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.933-946
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• 2020

Objective: The aim of this study was to provide a systematic review of the Korean literature on the influence of herbal medicine on liver function. Additionally, we tried to estimate the change in the data on liver function tests (LFTs) and the incidence of liver injury (LI) after taking herbal medicine. Methods: Systematic literature searches were performed on 6 major Korean databases (Research Information Sharing Service (RISS), Korea Institute of Science and Technology information (KISTI), National Assembly Electronic Library, Korean Medical database (KMBASE), Korean Traditional Portal, and Dongui University Electronic Library) from January 2010 to June 2020. No restrictions were placed on the types of publications, which included grey literature. Results: The data indicate that herbal medicine might be a minor cause of LI in Korea. However the results are not supported strongly enough to verify the safety issues because of the limitations of the original studies. Conclusions: Additional well-planned studies are still needed that can overcome the heterogeneity and the considerable methodological flaws in the analyzed studies.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.135-142
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• 2009

Purpose: Ojeok-san(Wuji-san) is one of the most frequently prescribed traditional medicine. To evaluate acute toxicity, ICR mice were treated with Ojeok-san(Wuji-san) administration. Methods: In this study, we investigated the acute toxicity of water-extracted Ojeok-san(Wuji-san). 0(control group), 1250, 2500, and 5000 mg/kg of Ojeok-san(Wuji-san) were orally administered to 20 male and 20 female for 14 days. We observed survival rates, general toxicity, change of body weight, and autopsy. Results: Compared with the control group, we could not find any toxic alteration in all treated groups (1250, 2500 and 5000 mg/kg). Conclusions: $LD_{50}$ of Ojeok-san(Wuji-san) might be over 5000 mg/kg and it is very safe to ICR mice.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.41-47
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• 2008

Objective : The purpose of this report was to provide the information about activity and safety of Ssanghwa-tang by analyzing domestic papers and theses about Ssanghwa-tang. Methods : Domestic papers and theses related to Ssanghwa-tang were reviewed and analyzed. These papers were then classified by year, experimental method, and activity subject. Results : The following result s were obtained in this study. 1. The study of Ssanghwa-tang started from 1981 and continued steadily 1990s and it was decreased 2000s. 2. The paper of Ssanghwatang was entire domestic paper, 20 volumes. 3. In classified by experimental method and animal of Ssanghwa-tang paper, more than a half study used rat in vivo experiment. Furthermore clinical experiments were performed about anti-fatigue effect of Ssanghwa-tang and Ssanghwatang was proved a safety herbal medicine in acute toxicity experiment. 4. Decursin, glycyrrhizin, paeoniflorin were determined in Ssanghwa-tang by using HPLC analysis. 5. As these studies were classified by subject, papers related to anti-fatigue effect were most abundant by 7 papers. Besides there were several papers related to liver funtion, anti-inflammatory, alleviation, smooth muscle relaxation effect and so on. 6. According to experimental data, it is supported that Ssanghwa-tang was safety herbal medicine and it has a several activity about anti-fatigue, anti-inflammatory, alleviation, smooth muscle relaxation. Conclusion : Many study of basic science experiments and clinical experiments were performed and reported on Ssanghwa-tang in domestic journal. Ssanghwa-tang is being used in various ways associating with anti-fatigue, anti-inflammatory, alleviation and smooth muscle relaxation. furthermore Ssanghwatang was proved a safety herbal medicine in acute toxicity experiment. However, studies on randomized controlled trials of Ssanghwatang need to be completed at the clinical level.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.193-207
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of traditional herbal medicine as a stand-alone treatment group through major English databases due to the lack of RCTs in Korea, and to provide a review of the herbal interventions used. Methods: Using four databases (Pubmed, EMBASE, OASIS, RISS), combination of words such as "Coronavirus" "RCT" "Herb" "Decoction" "TCM" were used. RCTs using herbal medicines to treat coronavirus were searched. Final 4 studies were selected by two authors according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: A total of 1,435 patients were studied. The Chinese herbs used in the treatment group were Shengmai Yin, JingYinGuBiao granules, Jinhua Qinggan granules, and Bufei Huoxue capsules. The intervention group showed greater attenuation of pneumonia lesions on CT. Also, improvement in 6-min walk distance (6MWD), and negative conversion rate in treatment group were reported. Furthermore, scores on the Fatigue Assessment Inventory (FAI) were lower in the herbal group than in the placebo group. The median time to recovery of COVID-19 related symptoms was shorter in TCM group compared to the control group. Reported adverse effects were diarrhea, liver dysfunction, and excessive menstruation, and two papers did not mention side effects in detail. Conclusion: Herbal medicine alone can increase the conversion rate of viral negativity and relieve COVID-19 related symptoms without significant adverse effects.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.93-98
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• 2009

In this research, the acute toxicity of fermented Yukmijihwangtang extract was examined using male and female ICR mice, To evaluate the acute toxity and safety, 0(control group), 1250, 2500 and 5000 mg/kg of fermented Yukmijihwangtang extract were orally administered to male and female ICR mice. After single administration, we observed survival rates, general toxicity, changes of body weight for the 14 days and autopsy at 1 day following the administration according to the Regulation of Korean Food and Drug Administration. Compared with the control group, we could not find any toxic alteration in all treated groups (1250, 2500 and 5000 mg/kg). $LD_{50}$ of fermented Yukmijihwangtang extract might be over 5000 mg/kg and it is very safe to ICR mice.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.2 s.66
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• pp.111-121
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• 2006

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to identify attitude, treatment and quality control of Oriental medicines and to find the influencing factors affecting them. Methods : We made a survey of 213 people who work in the field of Oriental medicine in Daegu. A survey on attitudes about treatment, and quality control of Oriental medicines was conducted by mail. The data was analyzed by SPSS. Results : The survey results showed that most common purchase place for Oriental medicine was a wholesale market (67.0%). Storage of Oriental medicine was mostly in warehouse (61.4%) without temperature controls. Subjects expressed necessity for quality control (100%), legal controls (96.2%), grading according to quality (95.7%), and standardization of Oriental medicine (90.6%) at a high rate. Conclusions : These results showed that subjects were interested in quality control of Oriental medicine to ensure safety.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.341-347
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of herbal medicine complex extract (NI-01), which were prepared from 6 natural materials (Cinnamomum cassia Blume, Lonicerae Flos, Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews, Arctium lappa Linne, Schzandra chinesis Bailon, Elsholtzia ciliata Hylander), as a functional material for inhibition of atopic dermatitis. anti-oxidative activity was confirmed by measuring DPPH electron donating ability and ABTS+ radical scavenging ability. Cytotoxicity and NO inhibition were measured using RAW 264.7 cells to confirm anti-inflammatory efficacy. The test substance was orally administered to the pruritus-induced ICR mice to confirm the inhibition of pruritus. The bovine cornea opacity and permeability (BCOP) assay was performed to confirm safety for irritation. NI-01 showed high antioxidant activity in DPPH and ABTS+ methods. In the anti-inflammatory effect tests with RAW 264.7 cells, NO production was inhibited at NI-01 concentrations of 50 (14.9%) and 100 (4.2%) ㎍/mL, which indicated that the anti-inflammatory effect was increased in a concentration-dependent manner. NI-01 also showed anti-itching effect after inducing of itching by compound 48/80 in ICR mice. NI-01 was proved to be a non-irritant substance in BCOP assay. The results of this study suggested that the herbal medicine combined extract (NI-01) has high antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-itching effects, and safety for irritation. Therefore, herbal medicine complex extract (NI-01) is thought to be highly applicable for the inhibitory ingredients of the atopic dermatitis.