• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.43-58
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• 2005

Internationally, many countries are facing the demand for reshaping health care systems to cope with rapid changing circumstances in health care sector. The recent growth of oriental medicine and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in the many countries is, to a large extent, due to the growth of the number of oriental medical doctors and physicians who have taken up alternative therapies alongside conventional medicine. To cope with the changing environments, many countries consider to develop integrative health care which is now used widely in health care sector. In both biomedical and CAM sectors(including oriental medicine), attention appears to have shifted away from separating therapeutic modalities into categories such as biomedical or CAM, towards a focus on merging diverse modalities into a 'new' integrative health system. In Korea, one of peculiar characteristics of health care system is that as health care provider, Hanbang medicine (traditional Korean medicine) and (western) medicine coexist since 19 century. Recently, the government of Korea has given many efforts to enhance the role and function of traditional Korean medicine in health care sector. However, the strategies and measures for integrative health care settings combining traditional Korean medicine and western medicine on health sector have not been developed yet. The research question of this study is In Korea, what are the trends and problems in interface of traditional Korean medical sector and Western medical sector; what are the causes of or associated factors to the problems; how to cope with the problems and how to resolve the causes?; what are the health policy directions and its strategies that the government should take to cope with the future demand and the burden on health care sector? In order to do this, this study explores the current situations and issues on the interface between traditional Korean medicine and (western) medicine in various ways using contents analysis of existing data and documents related to traditional Korean medicine and health policy. Finally, we discussed stakeholders' views on the interface in the health care sector. Then, health policy options to have shifted away from separating therapeutic modalities into categories such as 'traditional Korean medicine' or 'western medicine', towards a focus on merging diverse modalities into a 'new' integrative health system.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.848-853
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• 2010

Bone maintains its homeostasis through balance between bone resorbing osteoclasts and bone forming osteoblasts. Thus, unusual balance between osteoclasts and osteoblasts leads to pathological bone diseases, such as osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune arthritis, periodontitis. Schisandra chinensis well known traditional herbal has been used for treatment of diseases in China, Korea, Japan, andothers. Recently, research studies have demonstrated that the lignans found in Schisandra chinensis stimulate osteoblasts and suggest that it may be helpful against osteoporosis. However, the inhibitory effect of water extract of Schisandra chinensis on osteoclast differentiation remains largely unknown. In this study, Water extract of Schisandra chinensis markedly suppressed RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation in cultures of BMMs without cytotoxicity. The mRNA expression of c-Fos, NFATc1, and TRAP induced by RANKL was inhibited by water extract of Schisandra chinensis. It also suppressed c-Fos and NFATc1 protein expression. Taken together, these results suggest that water extract of Schisandra chinensis has the potential to serve as a treatment of bone disease such as osteoporosis.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.40-46
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• 2016

Many medicinal plants have been used for the treatment of edema, jaundice, and gonorrhea in traditional Oriental medicine. This screening study was designed to search the positive inotropic effects of herbal extracts in beating rabbit atria. Aquarius extracts of twenty six herbs were examined in atrial mechanical dynamics such as pulse pressure and stroke volume and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), one of the main hormones involved in the regulation of the body fluid and blood pressure homeostasis in perfused beating rabbit atria. Sophora flavescens Ait., Rheum officinale Baill., Acorus gramineus Sol., Chelidonium majus L., Pulsatilla koreana Nakai., Reynoutria japonica Houtt., Euphorbia lathyris L., Pyrrosia lingua (Thunb.) Farwell, Poncirus trifoliata Rafin., Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge, Kochia scoparia Schrad. significantly increased stroke volume and pulse pressure. However, those herbal extracts were not induced ANP secretion. We clarified the eleven herbal extracts for the positive inotropic effect independent of ANP secretion in beating rabbit atria. Thus these results provide a beneficial data for the treatment of the impairment of body fluid and blood pressure in traditional Oriental medicine.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.7-11
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• 2016

The aerial part of Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim. (Cucurbitaceae), has long been used in traditional Korean and Chinese medicines for the treatment of heatstroke. We isolated and identified three flavones, luteolin-7-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside(1), luteolin-4'-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside(2), luteolin(3) from its methanolic extract. In the present study, we found that luteolin attenuates the lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced inflammation in BV2 microglial cells. Luteolin significantly inhibited LPS-induced production of pro-inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide(NO) and prostaglandin $E_2(PGE_2)$ in BV2 microglia in a concentration-dependent manner without cytotoxic effect. Luteolin dose-dependently suppressed the protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2). In addition, luteolin also showed significant induction of heme oxygenase(HO)-1. These results suggest that both the aerial part of T. kirilowii and luteolin may be good candidates to regulate LPS-induced inflammatory response.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.1-11
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• 2021

Objectives: Nephrotic syndrome is a kidney disorder, which is characterized by proteinuria, edema (swelling), and hyperlipidemia. Maydis Stigma (Corn silk) has been widely used in Asia as a traditional medicine and is known to have a diuretic effect and is used for the treatment of edema and indigestion. Methods: The aim of this study is to investigate the improvement effect of Maydis Stigma in treating nephrotic syndrome induced by puromycin aminonucleoside. Sprague-Dawley rats were intravenously injected with 75 mg/kg/day puromycin aminonucleoside, then treated with either Losartan or 200 mg/kg/day Maydis Stigma for seven days. Results: Maydis Stigma significantly decreased ascites and proteinuria level. Plasma levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and plasma creatinine reduced significantly by Maydis Stigma. In addition, treatment with Maydis Stigma attenuated histological damage. Treatment with Maydis Stigma also restored podocin expression and reduced inflammation markers such as intracellular adhesion molecules (ICAM-1), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1). Conclusions: Maydis Stigma ameliorates kidney injury in nephrotic syndrome rat models. Maydis Stigma exerts a renoprotective effect owing to its anti-inflammatory effects and reductions of ascites and proteinuria. Thus, these results indicate that Maydis Stigma is likely to be a promising agent in the treatment of nephrotic syndrome.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.291-297
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• 2013

Sophorae Flos (SF), a composite of flowers and flower-buds of Sophora japonica, has long been used in traditional Korean and Chinese medicines for the treatment of hemostasis and inflammation. In this study, we investigated anti-inflammatory effect of four EtOH extracts at the difference in blooming stages of flowers on LPS-induced inflammation in RAW264.7 cells. We classified the flowers of Sophora japonica with SF-1 (length of flower is shorter than calyx), SF-2 (length of calyx is shorter than flower), SF-3 (full bloom), and SF-4 (not blooming at all). We examined HPLC analysis, whether quercetin and rutin are major component of these Sophorae Flos extracts or not. As a result, SF-1 contained quercetin, but the others did not. In addition, quercetin, SF-1, and SF-4 act on the suppression of pro-inflammatory mediators including inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 ($PGE_2$) against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced activation in RAW264.7 cells. Of these, SF-1 showed the best anti-inflammatory effect. These results suggest that Sophorae Flos with the highest content of quercetin would be used for the treatment of various inflammation diseases.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.167-175
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• 2013

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of cosmetic products containing concentrated ginseng using novel methods based on Traditional Korean medicine (TKM). In TKM, inspection of facial skin was an important method to diagnose symptoms and body condition of patients. Doctors in oriental medicine examined a patient as observing symptoms on the face and skin related to inner organs. This was called "mang-jin. In this study, eleven female, who have been using the cosmetic products containing concentrated ginseng for the last 5 years, and eleven healthy controls, who have never used the same product, were recruited. Three doctors in oriental medicine evaluated 17 inspection factors on facial skin. And 7 non-invasive skin bioengineering factors were assessed by various instruments at the same time. In results, 7 factors of the inspection were better in using the product than in controls. And sebum, roughness, pigmentation and wrinkle depth were significantly lower in using the product than in controls. So, this results propose that the cosmetic product containing concentrated ginseng has a good anti-aging effect on skin. And it is suggested that the novel evaluation method combined, Traditional Korean medicine and modern bioengineering technique, has to be developed for holistic concept of Hanbang cosmetics.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2010

Biological activities such as anti-oxidative and anti-microbial of the Seungmakalgeuntang, a traditional prescription, were evaluated. The electron donating ability of water, ethanol, supercritical fluid and 1,3-butylene glycol extract of Seungmakalgeuntang showed more than 50% at a 100 ppm concentration. At a 1000 ppm concentration, the superoxide dismutase-like activities of ethanol and supercritical fluid extract of Seungmakalgeuntang showed less than 50%. xanthine oxidase inhibition effect of the supercritical fluid extract showed more than 70% at a 1,000 ppm concentration, which was higher than vitamin C. From the measurement on lipid oxidation, the $Fe^{2+}$ chelating abilities of the supercritical fluid extract of Seungmakalgeuntang was more than 60% at a 100 ppm concentration. Also the $Cu^{2+}$ chelating abilities of supercritical fluid extract Seungmkalgeuntang was showed more than 60% at a 500 ppm concentration. Clear zones formed by sample against the human skin-resident microflora such as Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus and Propionibacterium acne of ethanol and supercritical fluid extract of Seungmakalgeuntang showed the highest among all the extracts tested using a 4mg/disc. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against both S. epidermidis and S. aureus showed 2,500 ppm in the extract of the supercritical fluid.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.264-269
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• 2017

Prunella vulgaris, well-known traditional medicinal plant, is used for the cure of abscess, scrofula, hypertension and urinary diseases. Diabetic nephropathy is the most common cause of end-stage renal disease. The pathological characteristics of diabetic nephropathy are glomerular and tubular basement membrane thickening. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Prunella vulgaris, on diabetic glomerular injury in streptozotocin-induced diabetes rats. Diabetes mellitus was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ; 45 mg/kg) and confirmed by random glucose level higher than ${\leq}300mg/dL$. The experimental rats were divided into five groups: control group (Male SD rats), STZ group (Male SD rats injected STZ), Aminoguanidine group (Male SD rats injected STZ + AG 100 mg/kg/day), Low dose group (Male SD rats injected STZ + APV 100 mg/kg/day), High dose group (Male SD rats injected STZ + APV 300 mg/kg/day). AG or APVs were administered once a day for 8 weeks. Body weight and food/water intake were measured every four weeks. At the end of study, the kidneys were collected and cut into pieces for immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. Our study showed that body weight and water/food intake were no significant differences between untreated STZ-induced diabetic rat and APV treated-STZ rat. However, phosphorylation of receptor-regulated Smads (Smad3) was significantly decreased in APV treated-STZ rat as compared with the diabetic group. In addition, APV was improved nephrin level in kidney tissue. Therefore, we suggest that APV has a protective effect against STZ-induced diabetic glomerular injury.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.71-78
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• 2016

Objectives : Diabetic nephropathy is one of the most common chronic complications of diabetes and a leading cause of end-stage renal failure in the world. Mesangial cell proliferation is known as the major pathologic features such as glomerulosclerosis and renal fibrosis. Wiryeongtang (WRT) is a well-known traditional herbal formula as therapeutic agents for chronic edema and dysuresia of renal homeostasis. In the present study, we investigated whether WRT inhibits high glucose (HG)-induced renal dysfunction by TGF-β/Smads signal regulation in cultured mesangial cells.Methods : Inhibitory effect of WRT (10-50 ㎍/ml) on HG-stimulated mesangial cells proliferation and dysfunction were evaluated by [³H]-thymidine incorporation, Western blot, and RT-qPCR.Results : WRT significantly decreased HG-accelerated thymidine incorporation in human renal mesangial cell in a dose-dependent levels. WRT induced down-regulation of cyclins/CDKs and up-regulation of CDK inhibitor, p21waf1/cip1 and p27kip1 expression. In addition, HG enhanced expression of dysfunction biomarker such as collagen IV and CTGF, which was markedly attenuated by WRT. WRT decreased TGF-β1 and Smad-2/Smad-4 expression, whereas increased Smad-7 expression under HG. Furthermore, WRT inhibited HG-induced inflammatory factors level such as ICAM-1 and MCP-1 as well as NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation and intracellular ROS production.Conclusions : These results suggested that WRT may alleviate mesangial proliferation and inflammation possibly involved in renal fibrotic process, further diabetic nephropathy through disturbing TGF-β1/Smad signaling and NF-κB/ROS pathway. Thus, WRT might prove to be effective in the treatment of renal dysfunction leading to diabetic nephropathy.