• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.74-82
• /
• 2020

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive and most frequently diagnosed neurodegenerative disorder. However, there is still no drug preventing the progress of this disorder. β-Amyrin, an ingredient of the surface wax of tomato fruit and dandelion coffee, is previously reported to ameliorate memory impairment induced by cholinergic dysfunction. Therefore, we tested whether β-amyrin can prevent AD-like pathology. β-Amyrin blocked amyloid β (Aβ)-induced long-term potentiation (LTP) impairment in the hippocampal slices. Moreover, β-amyrin improved Aβ-induced suppression of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling. LY294002, a PI3K inhibitor, blocked the effect of β-amyrin on Aβ-induced LTP impairment. In in vivo experiments, we observed that β-amyrin ameliorated object recognition memory deficit in Aβ-injected AD mice model. Moreover, neurogenesis impairments induced by Aβ was improved by β-amyrin treatment. Taken together, β-amyrin might be a good candidate of treatment or supplement for AD patients.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.10-25
• /
• 2011

Objectives : Asthma is considered an inflammation disease characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness and pulmonary eosinophilia. Chungsang boha-tang is a herbal medication which has been frequently used in traditional therapeutic agents for asthma. We aimed to observe the clinical effects of Chungsangboha-tang on blood eosinophil, serum IgE, AST, ALT and pulmonary function in asthmatic outpatients. Methods : The subjects consisted of 66 asthmatic patients who had been treated with Chungsangboha-tang among all the asthmatic patients who visited the 5th Internal Medicine of the Oriental Medicine Hospital of Kyung Hee University from November,2004 to November,2009. We observed blood eosinophil, serum IgE, AST, ALT levels and pulmonary function test results as well as medical records of patients to evaluate the effects. Results : Pulmonary function significantly improved after 8 weeks of treatment, and blood eosinophil and serum IgE level significantly decreased after 8 weeks of treatment. AST, ALT levels changed in normal ranges. Chungsangboha-tang was significantly effective on the male patients who had a smoking history and worse initial lab findings. We also observed a significant improvement of pulmonary function and decrease of eosinophil and serum IgE levels in the patient group who had a single treatment of Chungsangboha-tang without steroid therapy. Conclusions : This study shows that Chungsangboha-tang has effects on the improvement of pulmonary function and decrease of eosinophil and serum IgE levels as well as improvement of symptoms. And, 8 weeks of long-term treatment showed no negative effects such as significant increase of AST, ALT levels.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.956-962
• /
• 2007

In cancer patients showing nausea and vomiting, a number of factors can be considered as the cause including brain tumor, electrolyte imbalance, gastrointestinal diseases or types of chemotherapy agents and dose of the drugs. Though nausea and vomiting can be minimized through the use of various anti-emetic drugs, many people still suffer from severe nausea and vomiting with poor quality of life compared with patients who do not show significant nausea and vomiting. In this report, we introduce a case of a cancer patient who suffered from severe nausea and vomiting. The patient was female and 59 years old with NSCLC (non small cell lung cancer) with metastatic brain tumor. Though western conventional medical treatment was used to reduce the symptoms, persistent nausea and vomiting were noted during the admission period. Herbal decoction Gamibokryungbanha-tang was used for nausea and vomiting which were uncontrolled under conventional western medicine; the patient showed remarkable improvement in terms of frequency and severity of nausea and vomiting. Further study will be needed in order to determine the long-term effectiveness of oriental medical treatment on cancer patient with nausea and vomiting.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.20 no.5
• /
• pp.1233-1240
• /
• 2006

We have recently demonstrated that Siegesbeckia glabrescens(SG), a herbal medicine, induces apoptosis via nitric oxide(NO) production in human aortic smooth muscle cells(HASMCS). However, the molecular pathways involved in SG-mediated apoptosis are not fully understand. In the present study, we investigated the cellular mechanisms of SG-induced apoptosis in HASMCS. SG induced NO production through inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) induction. The apoptotic effect of SG was attenuated by L-NNA, a NOS inhibitor. In the presence of L-NNA, the degradation of procaspase-3 by SG was inhibited. SG treatment induced a decrease in Bcl-2 expression but did not affect the expression of Bax. In addition, SG treatment evoked both down-regulation of PKC ${\alpha}$ and inhibition of PKC ${\alpha}$ phosphorylation. These downregulations were reversed by addition of L-NNA. It seems likely to De a downregulation of PKC${\alpha}$ due to long term treatment with PMA. Taken together, these results suggest that apoptotic effects of SG may be due to NO production via iNOS mRNA expression. Furthermore, Bcl-2 and PKC${\alpha}$ downregulation, and caspase-3 activation may be involved in the mechanisms for apoptotic effects by SG.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.58-72
• /
• 2023

Objectives The purpose of this study is to analyze the latest clinical trends in peripheral facial nerve palsy pediatric and adolescent patients who treated in Korean medicine hospital. Methods The study was conducted based on 185 cases of pediatric and adolescent patients with peripheral facial nerve paralysis who visited Korean medicine hospital from January 2017 to June 2022. Results The mean age of onset of facial nerve paralysis in children and adolescents was 11.7 years, and the incidence rate was higher in boys than in girls. The seasonal distribution was the most common in autumn, and 91.4% were diagnosed with Bell's palsy. The recurrence rate was 7.6%. The severity was evaluated on the House-Brackmann Grading System (HBGS) scale, and the most common was Grade III. It took an average of 6.5 days from the date of onset to visit the hospital, and 75.7% visited the hospital within a week from the date of onset. Hospitalized treatment was 69.2%. The higher the HBGS grade, the more hospitalized treatment was, and the total number of treatments and the duration of treatment tended to increase. The average treatment period from the first visit date was 119.6 days. 17.8% received only Korean medicine treatment, and 69.2% took Western medicine with herbal medicine. Conclusions In this study, there was a difference in the average treatment period from previous studies according to the study period setting. Long-term studies on the recovery rate and prognosis of pediatric facial paralysis are needed.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.48 no.3
• /
• pp.245-252
• /
• 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 Ginseng Research
• /
• v.40 no.4
• /
• pp.334-343
• /
• 2016

Background: Progressed tissue culture techniques have allowed us to easily obtain mass products of tissue-cultured mountain ginseng over 100 yr old (TCMG-100). We investigated the effects of TCMG-100 extract on erectile function using in vitro and in vivo studies. Methods: To examine the relaxation effects and mechanisms of action of TCMG-100 on rabbit cavernosal strips evaluated in an organ bath. To investigate the long-term treatment effect of TCMG-100, 8-wk administration was performed. After administration of TCMG-100, intracavernosal pressure, cyclic guanosine monophosphate and nitric oxide (NO) levels of cavernosal tissue, serum testosterone level, histological observation of collagen fiber, endothelium, smooth muscle cell, and transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$ were investigated. Results: TCMG-100 extract displayed dose-dependent relaxation effects on precontracted rabbit corporal smooth muscle. The TCMG-100-induced relaxation was significantly reduced by removing the endothelium, and treatment with an NO synthase inhibitor or NO scavenger. Eight weeks of TCMG-100 administration increased intracavernosal pressure in a rat model. The levels of cyclic guanosine monophosphate and NO in the corpus callosum and serum testosterone level were also increased by TCMG-100 treatment. Furthermore, histological evaluation of collagen, smooth muscle, and endothelium showed increases in endothelium and smooth muscle, and a decrease in transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$ expression. Conclusion: These relaxation effects on corporal smooth muscle and increased erectile function suggest that TCMG-100 might be used as an alternative herbal medicine to improve erectile function.

• CELLMED
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.3.1-3.6
• /
• 2021

Ascites is the accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity, and it is generally allied with liver disease like cirrhosis of the liver. The ascites is commonly associated with liver cirrhosis, malignancy, or cardiovascular disease today. The liver cirrhosis is the most significant cause of ascites in developed countries as per the available data. In the modern medicine system, the treatment includes the restriction of sodium intake, use of diuretics, and paracentesis done in severe cases. There are many side effects of synthetic chemical diuretics, and their long-term use is not recommended. The alternative medicine like Unani system of medicine provides natural diuretics and drugs which also have protective effects on kidney, liver and other internal organs. It is well known in all drug systems that the prognosis is poor in ascites, but the use of Unani herbal medicines can minimize the side effects caused by synthetic chemical diuretics. The natural herbs used for the management of ascites have fewer side effects as compared to synthetic drugs. The natural drugs can be used for longer duration and provide some dietary supplement which improves the quality of life. This review addressed the thorough treatment of ascites by natural diet and medications.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.130-138
• /
• 2018

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to explore patients' perceptions that deserve attention when designing core questions for a clinical practice guideline of Korean medicine(KM) for degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Methods : Patients who had been admitted to Pusan National Korean Medicine Hospital from November 1, 2015 to October 31, 2016 were invited to the survey. Patients were eligible if they were both clinically and radiologically confirmed as degenerative LSS. The structured questionnaire was distributed by mail and outpatient visits. Questions included types of experienced Korean/Western medical interventions for LSS, their perceived effectiveness on symptoms, the necessity for studies of KM for degenerative LSS, the types of KM interventions to be investigated and the types of outcome measures after treatments. Data were descriptively analysed. Results : Twenty of thirty-one invited participants responded to the questionnaire. Acupuncture and herbal medicine were the most frequently used KM interventions. Eighteen respondents reported that KM treatments were helpful for their improvement. Sixteen patients who mentioned that research on KM is needed chose acupuncture as the top priority(88%) among KM interventions. The most important outcomes in the view of nineteen respondents included functional recovery (68%) and pain relief (53%). Thirteen respondents (65%) replied that both short-term and long-term outcome were important for them. Conclusions : Our findings may have limited validity due to the small number of respondents and the potential selection and information bias. Further qualitative studies and large-scale surveys to comprehensively identify patients' views are warranted.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.33-43
• /
• 2018

Objectives: To observe the mitigating effects of a Traditional Korean Medicine(TKM) treatment program especially including pharmacopuncture, with Cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin chemotherapy on a both sides breast cancer patient. Methods: AA 74 year-old female patient diagnosed with both sides breast cancer (Right) pT1bpN0M0, (Left) pT1cpN1Mx was admitted to hospital of Dong-eui university in May of 2017. She received Cyclophosphamide and Doxorubicin from May $31^{st}$ to August $2^{nd}$, 2017 followed by TKM treatment consisting of herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion and pharmacopuncture (Trionycis Carapax, Non-toxic Bee Venom, and Cultivated Wild Ginseng Extract) for a period of almost 4 months, from May $13^{th}$ to August $19^{th}$, 2017. Symptoms were evaluated by the grade of chief complaints refer to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG). Results: TKM including pharmacopuncture alleviated chemotherapy-induced nausea, fatigue, joint pain, diarrhea, insomnia. Conclusions: This case study potentiates TKM with pharmacopuncture's significant efficacy in aiding breast cancer patients suffering from Cyclophosphamide plus Doxorubicin induced adverse effects. Further research should take place for clear understanding of the exact amount of dosage and safety. Moreover it must be accompanied by long-term follow up researches.