• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.13-37
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of Korean medicine for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We analyzed the result of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that applied Korean medicine to NAFLD patients through meta analysis and systematic review. Methods: The key question was to the effects of Korean medicine for NAFLD patients according to the PICO-SD (participants, intervention, comparison, outcome, study design) and we included only RCTs. We searched 10 databases including NDSL, KMBASE, KISS, KISTI, KoreaMed, Koreantk, OASIS, Cochrane, Pubmed, EMBASE without a language restriction. We assessed risk of bias by Cochrane group's Risk of Bias tool. Results: The finally selected 12 RCTs were analyzed. Total number of participants was 1189 (male 719, female 470) as 684 and 505 in the oriental medicine group (i.e. herbal drugs, acupuncture, acupoint embedding therapy) and control group (conventional drugs, placebo), respectively. The meta analysis results of examining 7 RCTs comparing the therapeutic efficacy of herbal medicine with that of Western medicine showed statistically significant (p<0.05) differences in the efficacy evaluation, liver function test results, blood lipids, and TNF-${\alpha}$. Furthermore, the meta analysis results of investigating 3 RCTs comparing the therapeutic efficacy of herbal medicine with that of a placebo showed statistically significant (p<0.05) differences in the liver function test results, blood lipids, and waist circumference. Conclusions: The research showed that Korean medicine for NAFLD can be effective treatment. But more studies are required to enhance the level of evidence and we should report on safety.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 2010

Bojungbangdocktang (BJBDT), a formula of eight Oriental herbs, is a modified herbal prescription of Bangdoktang and Bojungbangamtang. Recently, BJBDT was demonstrated to inhibit angiogenesis induced by vascular endothelial growth factor in human umbilical vein endothelial cells, enhance hematopoiesis and protect cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity in normal MCF-10A breast cells. Nevertheless, there is no safety study of BJBDT before clinical trial so far. Thus, in the current study, we investigated the toxicity about ethanol-extracted BJBDT. Male and female Spraque Dawley (SD) rats were given orally by BJBDT at 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg for 4 weeks. Mortality, clinical signs and measured change of body weight, food consumption and water consumption were observed. In addition, we performed ophthalmologic, urinary, hematological, blood serum biochemical and histopathological examination. Any general toxicity was not found in BJBDT treated group. Also, there were no significant differences in the parameters such as body weight, food consumption and water consumption, a lot of urine and blood factor levels except HCT, MCHC, Ca, TG, Glucose and T-Bilirubin level compared with control group. Although HCT was elevated and TG was decreased in male rats, and MCHC, Glucose and T-Bilirubin were elevated and Ca and HCT were decreased in female rats, these were within normal ranges. Finally, we determined that maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was 1000 mg/kg and no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) was 500 mg/kg. Taken together, these results demonstrated that BJBDT is very safe to SD rats.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 2014

Atractylodes macrocepala KOIDZ. (AmK) is a herbal medicine and resources of functional food which has been used for the treatment of indigestion, anorexia, diarrhea and digestive dysfunction. Recently AmK is frequently used as resources of functional food and whitening cosmetics. In this study was carried out to evaluate the acute oral toxicity of Amk in Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats. male and female rats were administered orally with Amk extract of 1,000 mg/kg (low dosage group), 2,000 mg/kg (middle dosage group) and 4,000 mg/kg (high dosage group). We daily observed number of deaths, clinical signs and gross findings for 7 days. No dead SD rats and no clinical signs were found during the experiment period. Also other specific changes were not found between control and treated groups in hematology and serum biochemistry. But we found out feeble histopathological changes in liver fat tissues. In addition no significant changes of gross bady and individual organs weight. These results suggest that water soluble extract of AmK has not acute oral toxicity and oral $LD_{50}$ value was over 4,000 mg/kg in SD rats.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.14-26
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• 2024

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility of conducting a study on traditional Korean medicine treatments for periodontal diseases, specifically gingivitis and mild periodontitis. Methods : This study will employ a randomized, controlled, parallel-group design. Subjects with gingivitis and mild periodontitis will be recruited in one university hospital. In total, 45 subjects will be randomized into three arms (Acupuncture therapy group, herbal mouthwash group and usual care group), and will be followed up for 4 weeks. We will assess clinical variables such as, pocket depth, bleeding on probing, gingival index, plaque index, visual analog scale, uroqol-5 dimensions-5 levels to analyze changes in microbial flora before and after the intervention. Results : The protocol for this study was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Dongguk University Ilsan Oriental Medicine Hospital, and registered with the Korean Clinical Trial Registry on March 29, 2024. Conclusions : This study is the first clinical research on periodontal diseases conducted in a Korean traditional medicine institution. The research aims to broaden the scope of traditional Korean medicine and is expected to serve as crucial data for future large-scale studies.

• Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.667-692
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• 2015

The study examined the Korean medicine industry from the perspective of the innovation system theory of each business, while it concentrated on the conflict between traditional Korean medicine and Western medicine, which have a major influence on the innovation system of Korean medicine industry, rather than the innovation system itself. The Korean healthcare system is a dual system of Western and Korean medicine, yet the definitions of Western medical practices and Korean medical practices are ambiguous. Thus the distinction of dual system depends on judicial precedents, and the innovation of Korean medicine has been inhibited due to the excessive emphasis placed on the Western medical practice in both healthcare system and pharmaceutical system. First of all, the usage of most medical devices derived from the development of modern medical engineering is not permitted in the Korean medicine industry, on the basis that most of the medical devices were originated from the Western medicine field. Secondly, new drugs using natural substances, once approved by the drug administration, cannot be prescribed by the Korean medicine industry although they are developed based on Korean medicine. Thirdly, the major safety issues on herbal medicine are about hazardous materials in medicinal herbs and liver toxicity of prescribed herbal medicine. The problem of hazardous materials can be solved by appropriate quality and safety tests in the cultivation and importation process. Whereas the Korean medicine circles points out that the liver toxicity issue is only a unilateral condemnation by the Western medicine circles.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.289-300
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• 2016

Objectives : Taglisodog-eum(TSE), a poly herbal formula, has been widely used to improve carbuncles by removing inflammation of the lymphatic channels in Traditional Korean Medicine. We previousely reported the action mechanism of TSE on experimental atopic dermatitis and the establishment of formulation for TSE ointment. In this study, we examined the toxicity test on skin and eye irritation by TSE ointment to prove the safety of Taglisodog-eum ointment in clinical use. Methods : Acute skin toxicity of the TSE ointment was evaluated in Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats. After dermal administration of TSE ointment(2,000mg/kg), body weight, mortality, and clinical signs of the rats were observed for 14days. Primary skin irritation and ocular irritation tests for TSE ointment were performed in male New Zealand White Rabbits. In dermal and ocular irritation test, body weight, mortality, clinical signs, Primary Irritation Index(P.I.I.), and The Index of Acute Ocular Irritaion(I.A.O.I.) of rabbit were observed after applying at abraded skin and eye balls with Taglisodog-eum ointment. Results : In the results of acute skin toxicity, no significant differences were found in body weight, the clinical sign and the mortality between control and TSE ointment treated group. In primary dermal irritation test, body weight, the clinical sign and the mortality were not significantly changed and Primary Irritation Index(P.I.I.) was 0.8, indicating TSE ointment as weak irritant material. In ocular irritation test, The Index of Acute Ocular Irritaion was 0.0, indicating TSE ointment as non-irritating to the eye of the rabbits. To evaluate toxicity of the TSE ointment in animal test, body weight, the clinical signs, the skin and eye irritation check were conducted; TSE ointment was considered to be weak dermal irritant in test animals. The no response of eye irritation test was observed in this experimental condition. Conclusions : According to the above toxicity test, We consider that this results is helpful for saying about the safety of TSE ointment in clinical use.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.327-339
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• 2023

Objectives : This study conducted a repeated dose 90-day oral toxicity test in order to up-cycling Schisandra fruit extract powder(SFEP) using discarded Schisandra chinensis by-products and evaluated the NOAEL of SFEP. Methods : SD-rats were orally administered SFEP at concentrations of 0, 62.5, 125, and 250 mg/kg once daily for 90 days. Body weights and clinical signs were observed during the administration period. After completion of the experiment, the experimental animals were autopsied to observe necropsy findings and organ weights changes, and hematological parameters and blood chemistry values were measured. Results : During the SFEP administration period, clinical signs such as salivation, wounds, and erosion were sporadically observed in 1 to 2 animals. In the SFEP 250 mg/kg administered group, weights of the liver and thyroid gland significantly increased compared to the control group, but no significant changes were observed in organ weights according to body weights. As a result of measuring hematological parameters and blood chemistry values, a decrease in RDW, T-BIL, and TBA, and an increase in TP, ALB, and Ca were observed due to SFEP administration. However, these changes following SFEP administration were accidental and not dose-dependent. Additionally, no correlation was found between gender and other parameters. Conclusions : Therefore, the NOAEL of SFEP was confirmed to be 250 mg/kg.

• Journal of the Korean Society of International Agriculture
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.257-268
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• 2018

Recently, the international standardization of ISO in the field of Oriental Herbal Medicine has been progressing rapidly under the direction of China's promotion. China's intention to promote international standardization is to extend its influence to the world and beyond the domestic market. The Oriental medicine system in East Asia has similar roots in academic terms, but the medicines that can be supplied and received in each country are different and have developed independently. The international standardization of medicinal herbs is expected to function in a direction that weakens such differentiation and independence. From a commercial point of view, international standardization is no different from creating evaluation criteria for oriental medicinal products, and it is expected that its potential impact on domestic and overseas markets and producers will be large. In particular, the international standardization centered on China can lead to favorable evaluation criteria for China, which may further negatively affect the market competitiveness of domestic raw materials, which have been pushed back by Chinese manufacturers. If the domestic production base is weakened, not only will the farmers suffer but the supply and demand of raw materials will also be manipulated, safety management control will be reduced, and the development of oriental herbal products using domestic raw materials will be hurt. Therefore, in the promotion of international standardization, it is necessary not only to reflect the value of Korean herbal medicine but also to provide strategic responses to protect the domestic production base. However, in the case of recent initiatives, there is no precedent in analyzing influence on the production partners and the related industries. In addition, there are few related papers and reports on the subject, so the publicity process has not been done sufficiently. In response to this, this study will examine the countermeasures against the international standardization of herbal medicines through reviewing its present status and evaluating the agenda of the Korean initiative.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.1-7
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• 2010

Objectives: To introduce to TKM scientific dose conversion methods of human to animal or animal to human for new drug investigations. Methods: We searched guidelines of the FDA and KFDA, and compared them with references for drug-dose conversion from various databases such as PubMed and Google. Then, we analyzed the potential issues and problems related to dose conversion in safety documentation of new herbal drugs based on our experiences during Investigational New Drug (IND) applications of TKM. Results: Dose conversion from human to animal or animal to human must be appropriately translated during new drug development. From time to time, investigators have some difficulty in determining the appropriate dose, because of misunderstandings of dose conversion, especially when they estimate starting dose in clinical or animal studies to investigate efficacy, toxicology and mechanisms. Therefore, education of appropriate dose calculation is crucial for investigators. The animal dose should not be extrapolated to humans by a simple conversion method based only on body weight, because many studies suggest the normalization method is based mainly on body surface area (BSA). In general, the body surface area seems to have good correlation among species with several parameters including oxygen utilization, caloric expenditure, basal metabolism, blood volume and circulating plasma protein. Likewise, a safety factor should be taken into consideration when deciding high dose in animal toxicology study. Conclusion: Herein, we explain the significance of dose conversion based on body surface area and starting dose estimation for clinical trials with safety factor.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.172-176
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• 2024

Warts caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) are generally treated with cryotherapy, CO₂ laser ablation, interferon injections, and bleomycin injections. However, it is sometimes difficult to treat children because the treatment can be painful. In addition, recurrence may occur after treatment. In this study, warts completely disappeared following the administration of herbal medicine in two children, with warts in multiple parts of the hands and around the nails. Two pediatric patients visited the hospital for treatment of warts around their fingers and nails. Both patients received Taeeumjowi-tang (TJT) as a decoction for 60 days. TJT was performed twice per day for the 11-year-old patient and once per day for the 7-year-old patient. Patient progress was observed monthly, and the visual condition of the warts was photographed during the visits. After approximately two months of treatment, the warts disappeared from the fingers and nails of both patients. This case study suggests that the oral administration of TJT may be effective for pediatric patients with warts. Further studies are required to determine the efficacy and safety of these therapies.