• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.67-74
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• 2019

Objectives : Agastachis herba is a aerial part of Agastache rugosa (Fischer et Meyer) O. Kuntze which has been used as traditional medicines. Methods : The samples were collected using a domestic cultivation of Agastachis Herba. We experiment on essential oil content, the content of ethanol soluble extracts and HPLC profiling. Results : Loss on drying of Agastachis Herba contents of harvest in June ~ July was 4.93~8.26% and contents of harvest in August ~ September was 3.88~5.38%. Ash of Agastachis Herba contents of harvest in June ~ July was 5.07~7.97% and contents of harvest in August ~ September was 4.55~7.61%. Acid-insoluble ash of Agastachis Herba contents of harvest in June ~ July was 0.43~1.62% and contents of harvest in August ~ September was 0.46~1.44%. Essential oil contents of Agastachis Herba contents of harvest in June ~ July was $0.2{\sim}0.4m{\ell}$ and contents of harvest in August ~ September was $0.2{\sim}0.6m{\ell}$. Ethanol soluble extracts of Agastachis Herba contents of harvest in June ~ July was 9.72~20.44% and contents of harvest in August ~ September was 11.00~18.70%. HPLC profiling was detected of tilianin(12.93 min), acacetin(15.84 min) and agastachoside(17.95 min). Conclusion : Agastachis Herba should be harvested from August ~ September, the time of flowering. This is because of the high content of active compounds.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.245-252
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• 2024

Ginseng is a traditional herbal medicine used for prevention and treatment of various diseases as a tonic. Recent scientific cohort studies on life prolongation with ginseng consumption support this record, as those who consumed ginseng for more than 5 years had reduced mortality and cognitive decline compared to those who did not. Clinical studies have also shown that acute or long-term intake of ginseng total extract improves acute working memory performance or cognitive function in healthy individuals and those with subjective memory impairment (SMI), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or early Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia who are taking AD medication(s). Ginseng contains various components ranging from classical ginsenosides and polysaccharides to more recently described gintonin. However, it is unclear which ginseng component(s) might be the main candidate that contribute to memory or cognitive improvements or prevent cognitive decline in older individuals. This review describes recent clinical contributors to ginseng components in clinical tests and introduces emerging evidence that ginseng components could be novel candidates for cognitive improvement in older individuals, as ginseng components improve SMI cognition and exhibits add-on effects when coadministered with early AD dementia drugs. The mechanism behind the beneficial effects of ginseng components and how it improves cognition are presented. Additionally, this review shows how ginseng components can contribute to SMI, MCI, or early AD dementia when used as a supplementary food and/or medicine, and proposes a novel combination therapy of current AD medicines with ginseng component(s).

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.54-61
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• 2024

Background: The Korean name for Angelica gigas Nakai (AGN) is Cham-dang-gui, which grows naturally or is cultivated, and its dried roots are used in traditional herbal medicines. The AGN root exert various pharmacological effects. Despite the various pharmacological effects of the AGN root, there are no reports on its anti-oral microbial effects. The purpose of this study was to reveal the anti-oral microbial effect and the microbial and biochemical changes in oral microorganisms according to the concentration of the ethanol extract of AGN (EAGN) root, and to confirm the possibility of using EAGN as a plant-derived functional substance for controlling oral infectious microorganisms. Methods: Disk diffusion test, growth measurement, biofilm formation assay, and measurements of acid production and buffering capacity were performed to confirm the antibacterial effect of EAGN. Results: EAGN showed anti-oral bacterial effects against Streptococcus mutans and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans at all concentrations, with S. mutans showing a more susceptible effect at concentrations above 5.0 mg/ml and A. actinomycetemcomitans at 3.75 mg/ml. EAGN treatment significantly reduced A. actinomycetemcomitans growth at all concentrations tested. Biofilm formation was significantly reduced at concentrations above 3.75 mg/ml for S. mutans and 2.5 mg/ml for A. actinomycetemcomitans. Acid production in S. mutans and A. actinomycetemcomitans was significantly increased by treatment with EAGN, and the buffering capacities of S. mutans and A. actinomycetemcomitans increased from an EAGN concentration of 3.75 mg/ml and above. Conclusion: EAGN showed anti-oral bacterial effects against both S. mutans and A. actinomycetemcomitans at concentrations above 3.75 mg/ml, which were thought to be related to the inhibition of their growth and biofilm formation. Therefore, EAGN can be used as a safe functional substance derived from medicinal plants owing to its antibacterial effects against S. mutans and A. actinomycetemcomitans.

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.515-521
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• 2013

Healthcare approach in Western medicine and Korean Traditional Medicine (KTM) varies from its nature of human understanding and cultural differences. This fundamental difference in their approach of the human pathology has dualised and hindered common medical communication between the two fields of medicines. Within this current difficulty, the integrative medical service is said to become a novel method to provide the patients with the best medical care as their intent is to adapt and combine the advantages stated from the two different fields. This research paper shows the integrative approach of treating jaundice, where the symptoms of dampness and heat on Korean traditional standards are analyzed using statistical methods based on monitoring the blood test results. Therefore, we can explore an approach to diagnose and treat with comprehensive and integrative medicine algorithm.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.144-152
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• 2009

Background : Ephedra (Ephedra sinica) has been widely used to treat respiratory disease in traditional medicine of East Asia for over a hundred years. Despite safety concerns raised by some, the use of ephedra in traditional medicine is documented over more than 1,800 years. It is well established that ephedra is one of the central medicines in Korean 'Seseng constitution' medicine. In Sasang constitution medicine, all humans can be divided into one of four types: Soeumin, Soyangin, Taeumin or Taeyangin, and each constitution type has their own typical characteristics. Accordingly, it is hypothesized that the adverse effects of ephedra differ depending on the Sasang constitution classification. Objectives : The aim of this study was to determine adverse effects of ephedra which is classified as a Taeumin herb, and to observe whether the response differs or not. according to Sasang constitution classification. Methods : The study design was a double-blind randomized controlled trial. The subjects were healthy adults 20 - 50 years old who agreed to participate in this study. They were allocated through randomization to either ephedra group (N=55) or placebo group (N=24). where ephedra extract (6 g of dried ephedra) and placebo with similar opaque capsules were given twice for one day. To compare the adverse events of ephedra according to Sasang constitution classification, we analyzed blood pressure (systolic and diastolic), pulse rate, the morning questionnaire, and patient's global assessment scale score for well known adverse events: palpitation, headache, sweating, tiredness, dyspepsia, and dry mouth. Results : After ingestion of ephedra, the pulse rate had a significant increase in all constitution types. The changes of diastolic pressure in Soeumin and the changes of pulse rate in Soeumin, Soyangin and Taeumin had a significant increase in the ephedra over the control group. In the ephedra group, the palpitation and dyspepsia score of the patients' global assessment scale had a significant increase in Soeumin, with palpitation and sweating score increasing in Soyangin. Others observations were insignificant results. Conclusion : The results of this study may confirm that the physical responses or adverse effects of herbs differ for each type of Sasang constitution. Future studies using other herbs will be required to ascertain the herbal drug reaction of Sasang constitutions.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2016

It is believed that traditional Korean medicines can be managed more scientifically through the development of logical criteria to verify their region of cultivation, and that this could contribute to the advancement of the traditional herbal medicine industry. This study attempted to determine such criteria for Sansuyu. The volatile compounds were obtained from 20 samples of domestic Corni fructus (Sansuyu) and 45 samples of Chinese Sansuyu by steam distillation. The metabolites were identified in the NIST Mass Spectral Library via the obtained gas chromatography/mass spectrometer (GC/MS) data of 53 training samples. Data binning at 0.2 min intervals was performed to normalize the number of variables used in the statistical analysis. Multivariate statistical analyses, such as principle component analysis (PCA), partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were performed using the SIMCA-P software package. Significant variables with a variable importance in the projection (VIP) score higher than 1.0 were obtained from OPLS-DA, and variables that resulted in a p-value of less than 0.05 through one-way ANOVA were selected to verify the marker compounds. Finally, among the 11 variables extracted, 1-ethylbutyl-hydroperoxide (9.089 min), nonadecane (20.170 min), butylated hydroxytoluene (25.319 min), 5β,7βH,10α-eudesm-11-en-1α-ol (25.921 min), 7,9-bis(2-methyl-2-propanyl)-1-oxaspiro[4.5]deca-6,9-diene-2,8-dione (34.257 min), and 2-decyldodecyl-benzene (54.717 min) were selected as markers to indicate the origin of Sansuyu. The statistical model developed was suitable for the determination of the geographical origin of Sansuyu. The cultivation areas of four Korean and eight Chinese Sansuyu samples were predicted via the established OPLS-DA model, and it was confirmed that 11 of the 12 samples were accurately classified.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.446-452
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• 2016

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) and its extracts have been used in a wide range of applications, including as folk medicines in many Asian countries. This traditional herb has several functional properties and strong biological activities, making it useful as a functional food material. This study investigated the biological activities of solid-garlic after fermentation by lactic acid bacteria. Several solid-garlic fermentation strains of lactic acid bacteria were isolated from Korean traditional fermented food or obtained from the Korean Collection for Type Cultures. Lactic acid bacteria showed selective growth in garlic extracts on MRS media. Fermentation of solid garlic (heated 121℃, 15 min or not heated) by lactic acid bacteria gave total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of 731.0-845.2 g/g and 92.68-413.58 g/g, respectively. The DPPH scavenging activities and SOD like activities were measured as 7,584% and 9499%, respectively. These activities were relatively higher than a positive control, vitamin C. Measurement of antidiabetic activity using α-glucosidase inhibition assay showed that solid garlic fermented with lactic acid bacteria gave a higher activity than the control, acarbose. Fermentation of solid garlic with lactic acid bacteria may therefore help to alleviate adverse biological activities, as well as provide functional food materials.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.71-79
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• 2014

Although Korean patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are generally treated by western medicine, many of them strongly believe in the traditional oriental Sasang constitutional classification and depend on it for food, health supplements, and oriental medicines decision making. Sasang constitutional classification is a part of traditional Korean medicine that divides people into four constitutional types (Tae-Yang: TY, Tae-Eum: TE, So-Yang: SY, and So-Eum: SE), which differ in inherited characteristics such as appearance, personality traits, susceptibility to diseases, and drug responses. It is recommended for T2DM patients to control their blood glucose very well from early stages with drugs and diet. However, many T2DM patients respond differently to their drugs, even though they receive the same medicine. Therefore, the present study investigated whether Sasang constitutional type can explain the therapeutic differences between oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs) therapy (mono, dual and triple drug therapy). Patients of 618 with T2DM diagnosis and Sasang constitutional type known who received both western and oriental medicine treatment in a hospital between April 2006 and April 2013 retrospectively studied. HbA1c (%) and blood glucose (mg/dl) levels before OHAs therapy and 3 month after were collected for metformin (MET) or sulfonylurea (SU) monotherapy, MET+SU dual therapy, MET+except SU (where was either alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, meglitinide or thiazolidinedione) dual therapy, and triple therapy, according to Sasang constitutional type. For statistical analysis, ANOVA was used and paired t-test by SPSS 19.0 where P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Pattern was similar levels of HbA1c and blood glucose and which was decreased in order of mono, MET+SU dual, MET+except SU dual and triple therapy. In all patients comparison, for the So-yang (SY) constitutional type, either monotherapy was less effective; for Te-eum (TE) type, MET+SU dual therapy was less effective while MET+except SU dual therapy was more effective and the triple therapy was less effective; and for So-eum (SE) type, the triple therapy was more effective. For the management of TE type it is recommended to use drugs except SU when dual therapy is needed, restrict triple therapy and consider dual and insulin therapy; for SY type it is recommended to follow current guidelines; and for SE type it is advisable to skip dual therapy and start the triple therapy early. Finally, the therapeutic response to OHAs is different among Korean T2DM patients with different Sasang constitutional types. Taken together, the choice of effective OHAs therapy for each type is necessary in order to minimize the poor control of blood glucose level, the risk of complications, and the costs from a failure of therapy.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.362-370
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• 1999

Propolis, a natural resinous compound collected from honey bees, contains many biochemical constituents(wax, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, etc.) and has been used in traditional medicines as early as 300 B.C. It was been demonstrated that ethanol, acetylsalicylic acid, ischemia reperfusion, non-steroidal antiin-flammatory drugs and stress induce gastric lesions by promoting the generation of reactive oxygen metabolites. Therefore, some drugs that are capable of scavenging or inhibiting the generation of reactive oxygen radicals might be expected to prevent the gastric mucosal injury. The aim of this study was 1) to examine the antiulcer effect of propolis, 2) to investigate the mechanism of action by determining gastric acid secretion, lipid per-oxidation, mucus content and proton pump ($H^+$/$K^+$-ATPase) activity on gastric mucus in varios experimental models, and finally, 3) to isolate and identify the pure compounds that exert antiulcer activity. Step 2-1 and 2-3 sub-sub fraction shoed a significant reduction of severity of gastirc damage at the dose of 25 mg/kg in various experimental models. We isolated 4 sub-sub-sub fractions by flash column chromatography of Step 2-1 sub-sub fraction and one sub-sub-sub fraction by recrystalization of Step 2-3 sub-sub fraction. The protective effects of propolis sub-sub-sub fraction manifested sifnificant effects in HCl-ethanol induced gastric erosion model and aspirin induced gastric ulcer model. These results showed that the gastric mucosal protective effect of propolis might result from the increase of mucus secretion, free radical scavenging effect as well as the reduction of acid secretion in accordance with the reduction of $H^+$/$K^+$-ATPase activitv. Three compounds were isolated and identified from sub-sub fraction of propolis which showed antiulcer effects. Subsequently, these compounds were identified as a flavonoid, namely, 2-acetoxy-5,7,-dihydroxy-flavanone, galangin and chrysin.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.387-393
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• 2011

Polygoni Multiflori Radix (PMR) a dried root tuber of Polygonum multiflorum Thunberg with bioactivities in bone metabolism is one of the most famous tonic traditional medicines in China, Japan and Korea.To observe the anti-osteoporotic effect of PMR, we observed the effects on proliferation and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of primary osteoblasts, bone nodule formation, pit formation of osteoclasts and osteoclastogenesis in vitro. As the result of that, although PMR extracts have no meaningful changes on the the proliferation of primary osteoblasts, significant (p < 0.01) increases of ALP acitivity of osteoblasts were dose-dependently observed in all PMR extracts treated groups tested compared to that of vehicle control. It means that it enhanced the differentiation (ALP activity) and bone nodule formation of osteoblast. In addition, PMR extracts dose-dependently inhibits the pit formation and the number of multinucleated osteoclast-like cells (OCLs), osteoclastogenesis in vitro. Therefore these results show the possibility of PMR extracts as another anti-osteoporotic agents.