• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.141-151
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• 2004

Platycodi Radix, as one of the most important traditional oriental materia medica, is utilized frequently in clinical practice and dietary in China, Korea, and Japan. To evaluate definitely the quality of Platycodi Radix, and provide scientific data for commodity circulation, new product development and clinical application of Platycodi Radix, we summarized its medical history, application status, chemical compositions, bioactivities, cultivation, international circulation, quality evaluation, dosage and safety, and brought forward some constructive suggestions on further establishment of international criteria for quality control of Platycodon grandiflorum.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.1170-1172
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• 2009

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Life Science Conference
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• 2007.10a
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• pp.99.2-99.2
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• 2007

See Full Text

• The Journal of Korean Medical History
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.77-86
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• 2014

The paper describes the practice and purpose of the medical missionaries research on the traditional Chinese drugs(中藥). Searches were made using the journal of the China Medical Missionary Association. The China Medical Missionary Association established the committee of the Chinese Materia Medica in 1890. This committee aimed to research on the traditional Chinese drugs. Then why did the medical missionaries study traditional Chinese drugs? This is because the western drugs(西洋藥）was not easy to acquire, especially in land areas. Also, some western drugs have poor quality and expensive. Therefore they need to understand that Chinese drugs will help in the production of the western drugs. But from around 1920, the main purpose of the research was changed. The scientific and systematic investigation on the Chinese medicine itself became more important. And this change partly influenced that medical missionaries' views on traditional Chinese drugs.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.727-729
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• 2004

A new cycloartane glycoside was isolated from the dried whole herbs of Camptosorus sibiricus Rupr By means of chemical (hydrolysis) and spectroscopic methods (IR, 1D, and 2D NMR, ESI-MS), the structure was established as $3{\beta}$, $7{\beta}$, $24{\beta}$, 25, 30-pentahydroxycycloartane-3-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside-24-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside (1).

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.792-812
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• 2010

In the 18th century, Xu Lingtai (徐靈胎) and Yoshimasu Todo (吉益東洞) were famous doctors advocating ancient medicine, though they lived in different countries, China and Japan. We compared their major books, analyzed their academic thoughts and then took conclusions as below. 1. The first, for instance "Classified Prescriptions of Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases, 傷寒論類方" and "Classified Assemblage of Prescriptions, 類聚方". Based on essential thought that a prescription and a syndrome should correspond, these books arranged and classified the Zhang Zhongjing (張仲景)'s texts."Classified Prescriptions of Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases", based on the thought that principles, methods, formulas and medicinals (理法方藥) were integrated in prescriptions, tried to find out the implicit treatment rules in prescriptions and syndromes through analyzing "Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases, 傷寒論". On the other hand, because Classified Assemblage of Prescriptions focused on the syndromes of ancient prescriptions (古方), it classified and collected the related texts of Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases and "Synopsis of Prescriptions of the Golden Chamber, 금궤요략", and then suggested only simple instructions on how to prescribe medicine. So in this book, the trend of experience was clear. 2. The second, there is "100 Kinds Records from Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica, 神農本草經百種錄" and "Description work of herbal pharmacology comprised of excerpts from Shanhanlun and medical experiences, 藥徵". Though both of these books are professional oriental pharmacology publications that advocate reactionism, there were remarkable differences in writing style between them. "Description work of herbal pharmacology comprised of excerpts from Shanhanlun and medical experiences" was based on "Treat on Cold Damage Diseases" and "Synopsis of Prescriptions of the Golden Chamber", just explained the effects of medications and discussed 'matter of course (所當然)', but not discussed 'the reason why (所以然)'. In explaining style of syndromes, it confirmed through research, and emphasized the inductive method. On the other hand, "100 Kinds Records from Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica based on "Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica, 神農本草經", explained the nature of medications and discussed 'the reason why (所以然)'. In explaining style of syndromes, it annotated and explained, and emphasized the process of reasoning. 3. The third, there is "Discuss the Headwaters of Medicine, 醫學源流論" and Severance of Medical evils, 醫斷". Aiming the then medical theories fallen in confused state, these books brought order out of chaos, clarified the categories of medical research, and emphasized the scientific method that could put theories into practice and verify them. The difference is that "Severance of Medical Evils" researched only macroscopic viewable clinical phenomena, and even denied the existence of names of diseases and etiological causes. Thus, it emphasized the accumulation of experiences, laid emphasis on "watching and realizing (目認)", and "understand and taking in (解悟)". Discuss the Headwaters of Medicine extremely emphasized the research of 'something not occuring (未然)', that is to say, induced notions of a disease from observing clinical phenomena, furthermore based on these, predicted the 'something not occuring (未然)' and emphasized researching 'the reason why (所以然)'. As regards how they deal with the traditional theories and post-Zhang Zhongjing's medicines, "Severance of Medical evils" took completely denying attitudes. In case of "Discuss the Headwaters of Medicine", it could be used reasonably through specific situation and detailed analysis. Collectively speaking, there were some differences between medical theories of Xu Lingtai and Yoshimasu Todo. Actually, these differences were whether he tried to research the essence of disease, whether he tried to consider it rationally, and how he treated various opinions occurring in the theories of traditional medicine and clinical experience.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.65-74
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• 2011

Objectives : This study was undertaken to verify the modulation mechanism of Gyeongshingangjeehwan18 (GGEx18) in ob/ob male mice. Methods : Eight-week old mice (wild-type C57BL/6J and ob/ob) were used for all experiments. Wild-type C57BL/6J mice were used as lean control and obese ob/ob mice were randomly divided into 5 groups : obese control, GGEx15 (Ephedra sinica Stapf + Rheum palmatum L.), GGEx16 (Ephedra sinica Stapf + Laminaria japonica Aresch), GGEx17 (Rheum palmatum L. + Laminaria japonica Aresch), and GGEx18 (Ephedra sinica Stapf + Laminaria japonica Aresch + Rheum palmatum L.). After mice were treated with several kinds of GGEx for 11 weeks, the mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) target genes and uncoupling protein (UCP) were measured. In addition, $PPAR{\alpha}$ and $PPAR{\beta}$ transactivation was examined in NMu2Li hepatocytes, C2C12 myocytes, and 3T3-L1 preadipocytes using transient transfection assays. Results : 1. Hepatic $PPAR{\alpha}$ target genes, such as ACOX and VLCAD mRNA levels were significantly increased by GGEx18 compared with obese controls. In skeletal muscle, LCAD mRNA expression was stimulated by GGEx16, GGEx17, and GGEx18, whereas MCAD mRNA expression by GGEx17 and GGEx18. $PPAR{\beta}$ target LPL mRNA levels were also increased by GGEx16, GGEx17, and GGEx18 in skeletal muscle, but adipose LPL mRNA levels were decreased. In addition, GGEx18 upregulated UCP mRNA expression in skeletal muslce. 2. $PPAR{\alpha}$ reporter gene expression was increased by GGEx18 in NMu2Li cells compared with vehicle. $PPAR{\alpha}$ and $PPAR{\beta}$ reporter activities were also increased by all GGEx treatments in C2C12 and 3T3-L1 cells. Conclusions : These results suggest that GGEx can act as $PPAR{\alpha}$ and $PPAR{\beta}$ activators, and that GGEx may regulate obesity by stimulating $PPAR{\alpha}$, $PPAR{\beta}$, and UCP activity. Of the 4 compositions, GGEx18 seems to be most effective in improving obesity and lipid disorders.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.219-231
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• 2011

Objectives : This study was designed to determine the effects of the GGEx18 ethyl acetate fraction(EF) on body weight gain, feeding efficiency ratio, and obesity-related factors in plasma as well as histology of liver and adipose tissues using high fat diet-fed male C57BL/6N obese mice. Methods : 8 weeks old, high fat diet-fed obese male mice were divided into 5 groups: C57BL/6N normal, control, EF(1), EF(2) and EF(3). After mice were treated with EF for 9 weeks, we measured body weight gain, food intake, feeding efficiency ratio, fat weight, plasma leptin and lipid levels. We also analysed histology of liver and adipose tissues on high fat diet-fed male C57BL/6N obese mice. Results : Compared with control, EF-treated mice had significantly lower body weight gain and feeding efficiency ratio. Consistent with the effects on body weight gain, EF significantly decreased the adipose tissue weight compared with control. Consistent with the effects on feeding efficiency ratio, EF significantly decreased plasma leptin concentrations compared with control. EF reduced the size of adipocytes as well as hepatic lipid accumulation compared with control. EF seems to be safe since not only the plasma levels of ALT and AST are within the normal range, but also EF did not show any toxic effects on organs. EF(3) was most effective among EF(1), EF(2), and EF(3) at doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg, respectively. Conclusions : These results demonstrate that EF effectively reduces body weight gain, feeding efficiency ratio in high fat diet-fed obese mice, leading to the modulation of obesity. In addition, EF decreases the size of adipocytes and improves plasma lipids and controls hepatic lipid accumulation, suggesting that EF may act as a therapeutic agent for obesity.

• The Journal of Korean Medical History
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.135-156
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• 2014

Through a simple translation and analysis of the "Su$\acute{s}$uta-saṃhit$\bar{a}$(The fascinating tales) S$\bar{u}$trasth$\bar{a}$na(The Introduction)", I have summarized the results of the research into the $\bar{A}$yurveda Herbal theory. 1. The title of chapter 40 is "dravya-rasa-guṇa-vip$\bar{a}$ka-vij$\tilde{n}$anīya(Medcation Taste Nature Effects Digestion)", and it states theoretical knowledge on materia medica. It says that 'matter' is the most important thing, and that it decides the curing effect. Although it does acknowledge the reason behind the doctors that emphasized things like 'taste', it mainly has a critical tone. The difference in philosophies and medical theory can be seen when we compare this to the "Caraka-saṃhit$\bar{a}$", 'theory on taste'. 2. The title of chapter 41 is "dravya-vi$\acute{s}$eṣa-vij$\tilde{n}$anīya(A Discussion on the Characteristics of Materia Medica)", and the contents of the chapter have a similar tone to the thoughts of the S$\bar{a}$mkhya(數論派). All 'matter' was created by the combination of the five elements of earth, water, fire, wind, and ether, and the predominant element makes it have an earth, water, fire, wind, or ether nature. Earth has an unmoving and down going nature, and makes the body strong. Water has an irrigating nature, and moistens the tissue and induces secretion and excretion. Fire has an upward-going nature, and improves sight and complexion. Wind relaxes and dries the body, and makes the mind and body agile. Ether gives flexibility, porosity, and candidness. The title of chapter 42 is "rasa-vi$\acute{s}$eṣa-vij$\tilde{n}\bar{a}$nīya(A Discussion on the Types of Rasa(taste))". "Rasa" is an important concept in $\bar{A}$yurveda. Sometimes it is translated as 'one of the seven types of bodily tissue' and seen as chyle, and sometimes it is seen as the tastes that can be felt with the tongue such as spicy, sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and astringent(澁). Volume 1, chapter 42 of the "Caraka-saṃhit$\bar{a}$" is dedicated to the "types of taste", and in chapter 26, it theorizes the concept of 'taste'.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.191-203
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• 2010

"Bonchogyeongjipju(本草經集注)" is a pharmacological classic published in the Southern and Northern Dynasties(南北朝時代, 420-589 A.D.) in China by Dohonggyeong(陶弘景, 456-536 A.D.). In "Bonchogyeongjipju(本草經集注)", Dohonggyeong(陶弘景) edited "Sinnongbonchogyeong(神農本草經)", the earliest classical text about material medica containing notes for 365 drugs, by adding another 365 drugs and further information from "Myeong-uibyeollok(名醫別錄)" and writing extended commentaries on them. His commentaries include changes in the geographical distribution, identification of varieties and other various special characteristics. The original text had gradually disappeared after other pharmacological classics were published such as "Sinsuboncho(新修本草)", in Dang Dynasty(唐代), "Gyeongsajeungryubigeupboncho(經史證類備急本草)" in Song Dynasty(宋代). All of these books were based on "Bonchogyeongjipju(本草經集注)", so the original text can be seen indirectly through these later sources. In the early 1900's, a transcribed manuscript of the preface "Bonchogyeongjipju(本草經集注)" was found almost wholly preserved except the first three lines, in the Makgo(莫高) cave of Donhwang(敦煌). Broken strips of transcribed "Bonchogyeongjipju(本草經集注)" have also been excavated in Turfan[吐魯番], which shows its original form written in red and black ink. Mayanagi Makoto[眞柳誠] researched on Donhwang(敦煌) and Turfan[吐魯番] editions, ascertained their existence and explained their bibliographical and historical facts. Sangjigyun(尙志鈞) restored "Bonchogyeongjipju(本草經集注)" based on other related sources such as Donhwang(敦煌) and Turfan[吐魯番] editions. " Bonchogyeongjipju(本草經集注)" can be said as the locus classicus(典範) of herbal medicine, that is most of the following materia medica was based on it. It makes it possible to pass down "Sinnongbonchogyeong(神農本草經)" to posterity and provide a foundation for herbal medical development.