• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.131-138
• /
• 2014

Radix Astragali, the root of Astragalus (A.) membranaceus, has been applied in a variety of diseases for a long time in Asian countries such as Korea and China. In addition, the aerial parts such as leaves and stems of A. membranaceus have received a great deal of attention. Recently, the polysaccharide fraction showing a potent immunomoduating activity was isolated from the aerial parts of A. membranaceus. Thus, the aerial parts of A. membranaceus would be worthy enough for a food material and a dietary supplement. However, they should be safe even though valuable. In our previous study, it was estimated that NOAEL for female rats are 5000 mg/kg/day of the crude polysaccharide fraction from A. membranaceus-aboveground parts. As a series of safety evaluation, genotoxicity test for the crude polysaccharide fraction was carried out in this study. In conclusion, the three genotoxicity assays provided strong overall support that the crude polysaccharide fraction lacks mutagenic and/or clastogenic potential under the GLP-based test conditions. This indicates the aerial parts of A. membranaceus would be safe enough for a food material and a dietary supplement.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
• /
• v.14 no.9
• /
• pp.479-484
• /
• 2016

This study was designed to secure the basis for developing the health tea that may help promote healthy blood vessels by natural herbal ingredients formulated in accordance with the basic principles of oriental medicinal materials. We investigated the vessels contracted by concentrations and safety assessment carried out by the cell viability of Taraaci Herba, Cnidii Rhizoma, Citri Percarpium, and Ophiopoginis Radix composition and concentration. We found cell survival rate was higher than the control group, showing a beneficial trend in the growth of normal liver and kidney cells. As a result, this study will be the basis to develop the health tea differentiated in the future Chinese medicine resources. Medicinal resources will be health tea based on clinical trials utilizing herbal western and oriental medicine convergence principle and vascular relaxation mechanism. And this study tried to make health tea industrialization possible.

• Genomics & Informatics
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.4.1-4.18
• /
• 2023

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an inflammatory and infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus with a complex pathophysiology. While COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are available, treatment of the disease is primarily supportive and symptomatic. Several research have suggested the potential of herbal medicines as an adjunctive treatment for the disease. A popular herbal medicine approved in the Philippines for the treatment of acute respiratory disease is Vitex negundo L. In fact, the Department of Science and Technology of the Philippines has funded a clinical trial to establish its potential as an adjunctive treatment for COVID-19. Here, we utilized network pharmacology and molecular docking in determining pivotal targets of Vitex negundo compounds against COVID-19. The results showed that significant targets of Vitex negundo compounds in COVID-19 are CSB, SERPINE1, and PLG which code for cathepsin B, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, and plasminogen, respectively. Molecular docking revealed that α-terpinyl acetate and geranyl acetate have good binding affinity in cathepsin B; 6,7,4-trimethoxyflavanone, 5,6,7,8,3',4',5'-heptamethoxyflavone, artemetin, demethylnobiletin, gardenin A, geranyl acetate in plasminogen; and 7,8,4-trimethoxyflavanone in plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. While the results are promising, these are bound to the limitations of computational methods and further experimentation are needed to completely establish the molecular mechanisms of Vitex negundo against COVID-19.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.626-633
• /
• 2007

To access the safety and efficacy of Chungyeoldodam-tang(CDT), a traditional herbal medicine prescription, on hypertension we examined various parameters involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension. CDT seems to be safe because CDT at the concentrations lower that 250 ug/ml showed no toxic effects in cultured human fibroblast and no toxic effects on liver function. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were greatly decreased in CDT treated group compared with control, and angiotensin converting enzyme activities were reduced by CDT in a dose dependent manner. There was no differences in weight of hearts between control and CDT treated group. The blood pressure and pulse rate were significantly decreased. CDT greatly reduced the levels of plasma hormones including aldosterone, dopamine, and norepinephrine, but not epinephrine, and serum electrocytes including Na$^+$ and Cl$^-$, but not K$^+$. were also decreased. The levels of uric acid, BUN and creatinine were significantly decreased compared with control. These results suggested that CDT has suppressive effects on various pathologic factors in hypertension, and CDT has potential as a safe and effective therapeutics for hypertension.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.192-213
• /
• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to analyze the domestic study trends of pharmacopuncture therapy on obstetrics and gynecological diseases in Korean literature, through reviewing the clinical and experimental studies. Methods: We searched for clinical and experimental studies using pharmacopuncture therapy on obstetrics and gynecological diseases, published from January 2000 to May 2019, through 5 Korean databases. The study design, target disease, type of pharmacopuncture, method of intervention, and study results were analyzed. Results: 36 experimental studies and 15 clinical studies were finally included according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. In experimental studies, there were 12 studies about postmenopausal osteoporosis, 9 studies about obesity, 4 studies about endometriosis, 3 studies about hemostatic effects and analgesic anticoagulative effects, 2 studies about ovarian function, and analgesic antiphlogistic anticoagulative effects, and 1 study about menopausal symptoms. In clinical studies, there were 3 studies about obesity, postpartum disorders, dysmenorrhea, and women's urologic disease, and 1 study about menopausal symptoms, atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) and breast cancer. Various types of pharmacopuncture have been proved to have a therapeutic effect in each of those obstetrics and gynecological diseases. Conclusions: This study indicates that pharmacopuncture therapy could be a good treatment for obstetrics and gynecological diseases. However, more well-designed and high-quality clinical researches are needed in further studies, to prove the effectiveness and safety of pharmacopuncture therapy.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.111-130
• /
• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify the current status of Korean medicine clinical practice for pregnant patients. Methods: The study is conducted by searching medical records of 209 pregnant patients using Korean Standard Classification of Diseases related pregnancy at the Korean Gynecology Clinic of traditional Korean medicine hospital from March 1, 2016 to February 28, 2021. We retrospectively investigated characteristics, symptoms, pregnancy outcomes of the patients and treatments for the patients. Results: The most frequent symptoms of pregnant patients were musculoskeletal symptoms (60.63%) followed by neuropsychiatric symptoms (14.55%) and genital symptoms (10.82%). The most common contributory factor of the symptoms was the motor vehicle accident (74.64%). Acupuncture (94.94%) and moxibustion (90.91%) were performed to most pregnant patients. Cupping (86.60%), herbal medicine (52.63%), Chuna therapy (30.62%), and pharmacopuncture (21.05%) were performed to the patients. Normal pregnancy maintenance and delivery were reported by 147 patients (91.30%). Premature birth was reported by 11 patients (6.83%), and miscarriage was reported by 3 patients (1.86%). Conclusions: Most patients were the patients with musculoskeletal symptoms injured by motor vehicle accidents. Various Korean medicine treatments were performed during pregnancy with safety outcomes. This study could be used as basic data to provide instructions for the development of traditional Korean medicine in the obstetric clinical fields.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.101-116
• /
• 2012

Objectives : This study aims to analyze the papers of the east-west medical combined treatment and suggest the research direction. Methods : 183 research papers were collected by using 25 keywords including combination(in korean words, 병용), collaborative practice(in korean words, 협진) in Korean Medical Database(KMbase) and Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System(OASIS). We analysed the type of studies, the kind of diseases, the treatment method, the kind of herbs and drugs in frequent use, and the result of research. Results : Among the analysed 183 papers, clinical studies are 89 cases and experimental studies are 94. 5 cases of clinical studies are Randomized Controlled Trial(RCT). The cancer(50 papers) and diseases of the circulatory system(25 papers) occupied mostly in treatment studies. Because Combined treatment was actively progressed in oriental medicine, treatment was mainly applied the combined oriental medical treatment with herbs and western drugs. In herbal medicine, Mahwangyounpae-tang(麻黃潤肺湯) and Eunkyo-San(銀翹散) were frequently used in the papers. In western drugs, Cyclophosphamide, Cisplatin, and Mitomycin C were frequently used in the papers. 154 papers introduced the treatment effect, 14 papers announced the safety, and 4 papers mentioned the side effect. Conclusions : We suggested several future research direction as follows. Clinical studies based on experiment studies must be more activated and many RCT shoud be shown. Experimental group in clinical studies should be clearly separated to confirm the treatment method is effective or isn't effective. Studies about the side effect must be expanded, and every study should be confirmed both the treatment effect and safety.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.93-98
• /
• 2007

Acute toxicity of WK-38, a herbal preparation for the atherosclerosis, was examined using male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. WK-38 is composed of Rhei Rhizoma, Magonoliae Cortx, Moutan Cortex Radicis. Rats were treated with the WK-38 intragastrically at 0 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg or 2,000 mg/kg and observed for two weeks. No mortality was observed at the doses used. Abnormal clinical signs such as eye bleeding, nasal bleeding and hyperemia had been shown temporary after administration. All rats were appeared to be healthy and normal during the 2 week observation. Also there was no difference in net body weight gain, gross pathological findings, and urine analysis among the groups rats treated with different doses of the WK-38.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.6-9
• /
• 2010

The present study was undertaken to estimate the antibacterial effect of a combination of C. rhizoma, L. Flos, and P japonica (1:1:1) extracts (CLP1000) and a combination of the herbal extract mixture and dioctahedral smectite (CLPS1000) against murine salmonellosis. At the concentration of CLP1000 and CLPS1000 0.5 mg/ml, the antibacterial effect was not showed on Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhimurium). On the other hand, the antibacterial effect against S. typhimurium was observed at the concentration of CLP1000 and CLPS1000 1.0 mg/ml. Oral administration of Smectite, CLPl000, and CLPS1000 at the dose of 10 mg/ml showed a therapeutic effect for S. typhimurium infected BALB/c mice. The mortality of Smectite, CLP1000 and CLPS1000-treated mice was 90%, 90%, and 70% at 12 days, respectively, while that of untreated mice was 100% at 9 days after a lethal dose of S. typhimurium infection. The results of our study strongly indicate that CLPS1000 has potential as an effective of salmonellosis.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.21-33
• /
• 2009

Objective : This experimental study was performed to investigate the safety of Soyeom Pharmacopunture solution manufactured by extraction of alcohol and water. To identify the use of it as eyedrops, the eye irritation test of rabbits and antibacterial test of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxysporum, and Candida albicans was performed. Methods : 1. The eye irritation test of this material was performed according to the Regulation of Korea Food & Drug Administration(2005. 10. 21, KFDA 2005-60). After Soyeom pharmacopuncture solution was administered in the left eye of the rabbits, eye irritation of the cornea, iris and conjunctiva was observed at 1, 2, 3, 4 & 7day. 2. After administering Soyeom Pharmacopuncture solution on bacterial species (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxysporum, Candida albicans) which cause Keratitis, MIC(Minimum Inhibition Concentration) and the size of inhibition zone were measured. Anti-bacterial potency was also measured using the size of inhibition zone. Results : 1. After Soyeom pharmacopuncture solution was administered in the left eye of the rabbits, it was found that none of nine rabbits have abnormal signs and weight changes. 2. After Soyeom pharmacopuncture solution was medicated in the left eye of the rabbits, no eye irritation of the cornea, iris and conjunctiva was observed at 1, 2, 3, 4 & 7day. 3. There was no response to MIC on bacterial species (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxysporum, Candida albicans) after Soyeom pharmacopuncture solution was medicated. Conclusions : The present study suggests that Soyeom pharmacopuncture solution is a non-toxic and non-irritant medicine, which does not cause eye irritation in rabbits, but dosen't have anti-bacterial effects on bacterial species which cause Keratitis. These study result recommends that more research on other herbal medicines of eye drop for Keratitis are required.