• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.9-15
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• 2017

Objectives : Traditional medicines isolated from natural products often have positive effects in the prevention and healing of various immune disorders, such as allergy and atopic inflammation. Scrophulariae Radix (SR) been used in oriental medicine used for treatment of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. Mast cells are known to play important roles in the initiation of allergic reactions. In this study, we investigated the effects of SR ethanol extract on inflammatory responses in IgE-stimulated RBL-2H3 mast cells. Methods : Rat basophilic leukemia RBL-2H3 cells were purchased from Korean Cell Line Bank (KCLB No. 22256). Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Assays for ${\beta}-Hexosaminidase$ Secretion : RBL-2H3 cells were sensitized with dinitrophenyl-ImmunoglobulinE (DNP IgE). The next antigen DNP-BSA ($25ng/m{\ell}$) was added for 10 minutes and the reaction was terminated after 5 minutes in the ice bath. To determine ${\beta}-Hexosaminidase$ release, supernatants were aliquoted into 96-well plates. Samples were mixed with substrate solution and incubated for 1 h at $37^{\circ}C$. Absorbance was measured with a spectrophotometer at 405 nm. IL-4 and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$($TNF-{\alpha}$) concentrations in cell culture supernatants were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Results : The cytotoxicity of SRE in RBL-2H3 cells was less than 5%. SRE inhibited DNP-IgE-imduced degranulation of mast cells in RBL-2H3 cells. Also significantly decreased the levels of inflammatory cytokine, IL-4 and TNF-alpha. In this study, the SRE showed potential anti-allergic and antiinflammatory. Conclusions : These results indicate that SRE could be inhibit the allergic response through suppressing the mast cell activation.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.1-12
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• 2019

Objectives : The consumption of licorice is large in Korea, but domestic production is insufficient due to the lack of adaptability. This study aimed to provide a morphological basis for adding interspecific hybrid licorice with improved adaptability to pharmacopoeia. Methods : This study was to establish identification criteria for the original plants, external and internal morphology of the authentic herbal medicines (Glycyrrhiza uralensis, G. glabra and G. inflata), market products and artificially interspecific hybrid forms of licorice. For this purpose, previous studies were investigated and visual and histological observations were carried out. We focused on the internal morphology by microscopic observation for securing objectivity. Finally, we proposed the identification keys for precise classification of each part. Results : 1) Original plant : Licorice species in the compendium were distinguished by the number of leaflets, presence of hair on the fruit, curvature and swelling of the fruit. 2) External morphology : Licorice species were distinguished by degree of powderiness, tearing gap, radial structure in the cross section and existence of protrusion of outer epidermis. 3) Internal morphology : Licorice species were distinguished by the degree of development of phloem fiber bundle, development of obliterated sieve, whether the secondary medullary ray are branched. In the case of interspecific hybrids, the characteristics of both species used for hybridization were mixed in all observation methods. Conclusions : These results suggest that the interspecific crossbred licorice is suitable for the pharmacopoeial standard. Therefore, it can be applied as a herbal medicine through additional supplementary study.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.77-90
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• 2022

Objectives: This study was aimed to figure out korean medicine doctors' opinion and treatment of Korean medicine clinical practice guidelines (CPG) for premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Methods: We conducted a questionnaire survey targeting korean medicine doctors belonging to the Korean Association of Oriental Medicine by e-mail and text and analyzed the answers. Results: 1. The average monthly number of patients visiting the respondents' clinics for PMS was 2.7, the main age group was 20-30s (80.8%) and the treatments the patients given before were mostly western treatments such as painkiller and combined oral contraceptives. 2. The treatment period for PMS was mostly less than 3 months (69%), and the frequency of acupuncture treatment was the most twice per week (41.1%). 3. The most effective herbal medicine for affective symptoms was Soyo-san, and for physical symptoms was Gyejibokryung-hwan. The most commonly used acupuncture point was 三陰交 (SP6). 4. Other opinions of the clinicians about Korean medicine clinical practice guideline of PMS were the need for promotion of PMS, convenience of taking herbal medicines and price competitiveness. Conclusions: We figured out korean medicine doctors' opinion of PMS CPG, clinical diagnosis and treatment.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.34-42
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• 2022

Objectives : Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by dopaminergic neuronal death in the substantia nigra pars compacta. PD is known to be linked with mitochondrial dysfunction and increased oxidative stress. In this study, anti-cytotoxic and anti-oxidative effect of 12 herbal formulae were compared. Methods : According to experts' advice, 12 types of herbal formulae (Gamisoyosan, Galgeuntang, Galgeunhaegitang, Banhabaekchoolcheonmatang, Bojungikgitang, Boheotang, Sihogyejitang, Sihosogantang, Sihocheonggantang, Ojeoksan, Cheongsanggyeontongtang and Palmultang) were selected from 56 types of herbal formulae covered by the National Health Insurance Service in Korea. To detect anti-oxidative effect, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay was performed, and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was performed to detect anti-cytotoxic effect of 12 herbal formulae using SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. Results : In DPPH assay, anti-oxidant activity was increased in a dose-dependent manner and half maximal inhibitory concentration was highest in the order of Galgeuntang, Gamisoyosan, Galgeunhaegitang, Ojeoksan, Palmultang, Sihogyejitang, Sihosogantang, Cheongsanggyeontongtang, Sihocheonggantang, Bojungikgitang, Boheotang and Banhabaekchoolcheonmatang. In MTT assay, concentration of 80% cell survival was highest in the order of Sihosogantang, Cheongsanggyeontongtang, Sihocheonggantang, Sihogyejitang, Bojungikgitang, Galgeuntang, Ojeoksan, Boheotang, Palmultang, Galgeunhaegitang, Banhabaekchoolcheonmatang and Gamisoyosan. Formulae with more than 50% DPPH radical scavenging activity at concentrations for 80% cell survival were Sihosogantang, Cheongsanggyeontongtang, Sihogyejitang, Galgeuntang and Sihocheonggantang. Conclusions : Sihosogantang, Cheongsanggyeontongtang, Sihogyejitang, Galgeuntang and Sihocheonggantang extracts can be candidate medicines for PD, but the effect should be validated in PD models.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.67-79
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• 2023

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to confirm the consumption trends of Korean medicine for health food consumption of consumers by using the Naver DataLab Shopping Insight service. Methods : In this study, the search data for the category of Korean herbal ingredients in the health food field of Naver Datalab shopping insight site was collected and sorted in order of frequency from August 1st, 2017 to June 22nd, 2022. The frequently searched keywords were organized based on the inclusion of Korean Pharmacopoeia (KP), Korean Herbal Pharmacopoeia (KHP), and Food Code. Results : 67,804 keywords were collected, and the most frequent keywords appearing for more than 200 days among the top 500 were 827 (1.184%). Among the frequent keywords, there were 149 keywords related to traditional medicine names included in the KP and KHP, and five prescriptions were included. 60 keywords were not included in the KP and KHP, and the keyword with the highest search frequency was "kujibbongnamu" (Maclura tricuspidata). Conclusions : The findings of this study provide information on the consumer's interest in traditional korean medicine (TKM) and natural products (NP), and can be used as a basis for understanding the demand for TKM and NP in the online shopping market.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.28-42
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• 2023

Objective This study aimed to analyze the efficacy and safety of external washing therapy for seborrheic dermatitis based on randomized controlled clinical studies in China. Methods We used the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) as a data resource and conducted a search using the following key words: "Seborrheic Dermatitis" and "外洗" Seven randomized controlled clinical studies were identified and analyzed in this study. Results 1. The external washing treatment group showed significant changes in total efficiency, relapse rates, Quality of life, and Hamilton depression rating scale, compared with the control group. 2. The most commonly used herbal medicines were Sophorae Radix (苦蔘), Thujae Orientalis Folium (側柏葉), Impatiens balsamina L. (透骨草), Phellodendri Cortex (黃柏), and Stemonae Radix (百部根). Conclusions The results indicate that external washing treatment is effective for patients with seborrheic dermatitis. Futher research on external washing treatment of seborrheic dermatitis in the future may be useful.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.57-68
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• 2024

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to analyze the current trends of various herbal medicine research on allergic disease with dysbiosis. Methods : Electronic searches were performed using Pubmed, Research Information Sharing Service(RISS), Korean studies Information Service System(KISS), Oriental medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System(OASIS). Results : We analyzed ten studies on the effect of herbal medicine on allergic disease with dysbiosis. Eight studies were animal experimental studies, and two were randomized clinical trial(RCT) study and one-group pretest-posttest research, respectively. Among the studies, three studies were on atopic dermatitis, two on allergic rhinitis, and five on asthma. All different herbal medicines were used in the studies. Changes in gut microbiota composition were observed in nine studies except for 1 RCT study. In eight animal experimental studies, there was significant reduction in allergy-related inflammatory markers. Six studies evaluated the change of metabolites related to gut microbiota and three of them showed significant increase in short-chain fatty acids(SCFA). Conclusion : This study provides current trends of studies on herbal medicine research on allergic disease with dysbiosis. Most research is conducted using animal experiments, and this is a relatively recent trend. These studies offer basic knowledge on the correlation between herbal medicine, gut microbiota, and anti-inflammatory effects in allergic disease.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.647-662
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• 2024

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: There is growing interest in herbal medicines for managing age-related diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Safflower seeds (Carthamus tinctorius L. seeds, CTS) and dandelions (Taraxacum coreanum, TC) are widely used to treat bone- or inflammation-related diseases in Oriental countries. This study investigated the protective effect of the CTS-TC combination on scopolamine (Sco)-induced memory deficits through inflammatory response and cholinergic function. Moreover, marker components such as serotonin, N-(p-coumaroyl) serotonin, N-feruloylserotonin, chlorogenic acid, and chicoric acid in the CTS-TC combination were analyzed for their potential benefits on memory function. MATERIALS/METHODS: Water extracts of CTS, TC, and the CTS-TC combination at various ratios (4:1, 1:1, and 1:4) (100 mg/kg) were orally administered to mice for 14 days. Sco (1 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected into the mice before each behavioral test. T-maze and novel object recognition tests were conducted to monitor behavioral changes after the treatment. Western blotting was performed to detect protein expression. In addition, the presence of 5 biomarkers, serotonin, N-(p-coumaroyl) serotonin, N-feruloylserotonin, chlorogenic acid, and chicoric acid, was analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). RESULTS: Behavioral tests showed that the CTS-TC combination enhanced memory function in Sco-injected mice. Inflammation-related proteins (inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, and glial fibrillary acidic protein) were downregulated after treatment with the CTS-TC combination. The acetylcholinesterase protein expression was also downregulated. HPLC analysis revealed that N-feruloylserotonin and chicoric acid were the predominant components, followed by N-(p-coumaroyl) serotonin, chlorogenic acid, and serotonin. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the CTS-TC combination protects against Sco-induced memory deficits by inhibiting inflammatory responses and cholinergic dysfunction. N-feruloylserotonin and chicoric acid, along with N-(p-coumaroyl) serotonin, chlorogenic acid, and serotonin, might be biomarkers for the CTS-TC combination, and their effects on memory protection warrant further study.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.5
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• pp.252-305
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• 1992

The Korean Medicine in the middle period of the Chosun Dynasty, with its clear independence, has made an excellent display of originality and superiority in the world medicine. By pinpointing its merits, classifying its lineal descent, and examining its relation with present Korean Medicine we can draw the following conclusions. First, the study on the history of Korean Medicine should, in terms of time, grasp the generational stream and, in terms of space, examine the relation with medicines of neighbouring countries, with both an inner and outer way of observing. Secondly, it is but a manifestation of the colonial view of history to classify the 460 years from Tae-jo(太祖) to Cheol-jong(哲宗) as Mordern Period of Korean Medicine. Therefore, the 250-year period between the mid-16th century of Myung-jong(明宗) to the late-18th century of later Jeong-jo(正祖), which saw a pivotal development of the national medicine as a practical medicine based on experiences, should be established as the period of Korean Medicine in the mid-Chosun dynasty. It is required from both nationalistic view of history and history as a positive science. Thirdly, Korean Medicine in the mid-Chosun period was developed with an emphasis on an independent development and creative succession of the national medicine, which was succeeded to the late-Chosun period. Fourthly, medical thought in the mid-Chosun period was much influenced by, and based on the practicality of, Shil-hak(or practical science : 實學) as was the current of the times. Fifthly, though medicine in the mid-Chosun period was generally developed, the recipes for the measles, epidemic and smallpox were especially developed owing to rage of epidemics, and the development of the acupunture as a military medicine was the most c lear because of the two major wars against the Japanese and Chinese, respectively in 1592 and 1636. Sixthly, Whang doh-yeon(黃道淵)'s Bangyak-happyeon(方藥合編), Lee je-mah(李濟馬)'s Tongui-susebawon(東醫壽世保元) and Lee kyu-jun(李奎晙)'s Uigam-jungma(醫鑑重磨) are representative medical books, in the late-Chosun period, which creatively succeeded national medicine. Seventhly, the lineage of national medicine flows from Hyangyak-jipseongbang(鄕樂集成方) Uibangryuchui(醫方類聚) Gugeupbang(救急方) to Uirimchualyo(醫林撮要) Tonguibogam(東醫寶鑑) Uimunbogam(醫門寶鑑) Jejung-sinpyeon(濟衆新編) and to Bangyak-happyeon(方藥合編) Tongui-susebawon(東醫壽世保元) Uigam-jungma(醫鑑重磨). These books are representative medical books in the early middle and late Chosun period respectively. On the basis of the above facts, it is clear that the orthodoxy of national medicine is in the direction of a creative succession and that is the best way to keep the spirit of Korean medicine today.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.118-126
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• 1987

Natural Killer cells are considerd to play an important role in antitumor immune surveilance mechanism. In this study, 21 putative anticancer drugs selected from reference were assessed by evaluating the effect on rat Natural Killer cell activity (NKCA). All 21 herb drugs were extracted in boiling water, lyophilized, autoclaved, and then used for experiment. Culture supernatant of concanavalin-A (Con-A)-stimulated rat spleen cells as a source of lymphokine was also used as a control of comparison. Rat spleen cells were used as effector and NKCA was measured in 4hr $^{51}Cr-release$ assay against Yac-1 mouse lymphoma cell line. In order to determine the optimal conditions for NKCA augmentation, effector cells were treated with 3 different concentrations of each drug for 24, or 48 hrs before testing of NKCA, In optimal conditions determined from previous results, the effect of herb drugs on NKCA were assessed in 3 to 5experiments. NKCA was significantly enhanced by treatment with 4 herb drugs(Ponciri Fructus, Houttuyniae Herba, Aurantii Pericarpium, Nepetae Herba). Culture supernatant of Con-A-stimulated spleen cells also augmented the rat NKCA more significantly. The results show that 4 of the herb medicines supposed to display anticancer effect may have activity as a biological response modifier through augmentation of NKCA.