• CELLMED
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.3.1-3.4
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• 2016

Consumption of herbal products from the medicinal plants contaminated with heavy metals can cause serious consequences on human health. This is a major concern for traditional and herbal medicine. The present study was carried out to analyze and quantify the levels of six potentially toxic heavy metals namely arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury, chromium and nickel in ten important Indian medicinal herbs. The air dried raw herbs were processed by microwave assisted wet digestion and analyzed by using atomic absorption spectrophotometer equipped with graphite tube atomizer. Except the chromium content in three plants, all the levels of six heavy metals analyzed were found to be quite below the permissible limits in all the ten raw medicinal herbs analyzed. The present work implies that, regular and systematic screening of raw medicinal herbs is necessary to check the levels of the heavy metal contaminants before using them for consumption or preparation of herbal formulations so that the possible contamination cannot cumulate up to the finished products.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.75-80
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• 2003

Arisaematis Rhizoma was processed by many methods from old literatures. The content of uracil was significantly decreased after preparation.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.17-30
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• 2016

Objectives Rehmanniae Radix Preparata was prepared in the traditional Rehmanniae Radix Preparata preparation method set forth in the 『Treasured Mirror of Eastern Medicine(Donguibogam)』 with a view to measuring the contents of 5-Hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde(5-HMF) at individual stages of steaming and sundrying and identifying new chemical components.Methods Based on the traditional Rehmanniae Radix Preparata preparation method set forth in the 『Treasured Mirror of Eastern Medicine』, Rehmanniae Radix Preparata steamed and sundried once through nine times was prepared. Thereafter, 5-HMF contents were analyzed and new chemical components were identified in the Rehmanniae Radix Preparata using Waters HPLC e2695, 2640 detectors, a Waters Acquity UPLC system, and a Micromass Q-TOF Premier mass spectrometer.Results The Rehmanniae Radix Preparata preparation method set forth in the 『Treasured Mirror of Eastern Medicine』 is a unique preparation method in Republic of Korea different from that in China. In the first stage of the method, fresh Rehmanniae Radix Crudus was divided into high quality, medium quality, and low quality ones named Rehmanniae Radix Crudus (Caelum)(天黃), Rehmanniae Radix Crudus (Homo)(人黃), and Rehmanniae Radix Crudus (Terra)(地黃) respectively to use Rehmanniae Radix Crudus (Caelum) and Rehmanniae Radix Crudus (Homo) for preparation of juice while using Rehmanniae Radix Crudus (Terra) to make Rehmanniae Radix Preparata. In the second stage, Rehmanniae Radix Crudus (Caelum) and Rehmanniae Radix Crudus (Terra) were made into juice and Rehmanniae Radix Crudus (Terra) was soaked in the juice. In the third stage, among auxiliary materials, rice wine named Purum Vinum Oryzae(淸酒) brewed from sticky rice was sprinkled on Rehmanniae Radix Crudus (Terra) to the extent that Rehmanniae Radix Crudus (Terra) became wet. In the fourth stage, Rehmanniae Radix Preparata steamed in earthenware steamer was dried under natural sunlight. The contents of 5-HMF in Rehmanniae Radix Preparata steamed and sundried once through nine times were shown to be below 0.1% in all cases. Pomolic acid was identified as a new chemical component.Conclusions In conclusion, the Rehmanniae Radix Preparata preparation method set forth in the 『Treasured Mirror of Eastern Medicine』 is thought to be a unique preparation method in South Korea in which Rehmanniae Radix Preparata is completed through the first stage in which fresh Rehmanniae Radix Crudus collected from fields is divided into high, medium, and low quality ones and fresh Rehmanniae Radix Crudus juice is made, the second stage in which the high quality fresh Rehmanniae Radix Crudus is soaked in the fresh Rehmanniae Radix Crudus juice, the third stage in which the fresh Rehmanniae Radix Crudus is steamed, and the fourth stage in which the steamed Rehmanniae Radix Crudus is dried.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2012

Purpose: Herbal preparations have long been used for medical purposes by traditional cultures, and their use is increasing in modern societies. However, many herbal agents produce specific cardiovascular toxicities in humans. We performed this study in order to investigate the clinical characteristics of the cardiac toxicities associated with herbal remedies. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 45 patients (mean age $57{\pm}10$ years) who presented with cardiotoxicity between January 2007 and May 2011 due to ingestion of herbal remedy substances. Patients were identified as suffering cardiotoxicity if they presented with chest pain, EKG abnormality, and elevation of cardiac enzyme. Results: Of the 45 total cases, 17 included hemodynamic instability (37.8%), 7 with increasing cardiac enzyme (15.6%), 2 with cardiac arrest (4.4%) and one case of mortality (2.2%). The cardiotoxic herb group that demonstrated the worst clinical course was Ranunculaceae. Conclusions: In our study results, 57.6% of the herbal intoxication patients demonstrated the effects of cardiotoxicity. Thus, we recommend careful monitoring of herbal intoxication patients.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.15-22
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• 2017

Objectives : This study was conducted to identify awareness and satisfaction of herbal medicine preparations in Korean medicine doctor(KMD). Methods : The questionnaire consisted of three professors of Korean medicine based on previous researches and reports. The pilot survey was conducted to five KMDs who work in local clinic to get face validity. Based on the results of the pilot survey, three professors of Korean medicine completed the final version. Online surveys was conducted to member of the association of Korean medicine from march 25 to april 6 in 2016. Results : The proportion of patients who prescribe herbal medicine was not significantly correlated to gender (p=0.346), but significantly correlated to age(p<0.01), specialty(p=0.017), monthly income(0.022), and clinical experience(p<0.001). The most common reason for using the herbal preparations which is covered by NHI (National Health Insurance) was due to patient's payment(39.3%). Likewise, the most common reason for using the herbal preparations which is not covered by NHI was various kind of prescription(34.1%). Conclusions : The utilization of herbal preparations could be enhanced by expansion of NHI cover range of herbal preparations.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2010

We conducted a single blind, randomized and crossover clinical trial in order to test the effect of curcuma longa herbal mixture on blood alcohol level and alcohol hangover in 19 healthy volunteers. The herbal mixture did not show a statistical significance in $C_{max}$, $T_{max}$ and AUC in alcohol disposition. The herbal mixture did not also ameliorate blood laboratory result after alcohol consumption. In contrast, the herbal mixture is shown effective on alcohol hangover. In behavior tests, the fewer subjects in the herbal mixture group were impaired with alcohol than in reference group. Moreover, the symptom severity score in the herbal mixture was lower than that in reference group. The symptom severity score was statistically especially in stomach pain, diarrhea, concentration disorder, memory and bad breath at drinking day and one day after drinking. These results indicate that the general symptoms seemed to be recovered as time goes on. From these results, it was suggested that the herbal mixture have a beneficial effect on modulating alcohol hangover.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2021

Objects : In this study, I aimed to determine the size and administration Method of pills preparation in Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases. Methods : I investigated the Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases, Newly Revised Materia Medica, Variorum of the Classic of Materia Medica, The Korean Herbal Pharmacopoeia, and recent studies. Results : There were four kinds of pills preparation. Each size of pill preparation was equal to the Odongja, Tanwhan, Yolk, and quarter of daily dosage of Decoction. One pill of Tanwhan was equivalent to 16 pills of Odongja, and one Yolk was equal to 40 pills of Odongja. The Diameter of Odongja was 6.5 mm, Tanwhan was 16.37897 mm, and Yolk was 22.11484 mm. Jeodangwhan was equal to one quarter daily dosage of Jeodangtang. Maximum size to swallow with water was Odongja and daily dosage, which was 16 pills, includes one square-inch-spoon of powder preparation. When we made the pill preparation, it is difficult to make 16 pills using one square-inch-spoon of powder. Therefore, Zhang Zhongjing made one dosage started from 10 pills to 20 pills to find out optimum dose. Due to the difficulty of making precise size of pills and considerable amount of daily dosage, there was no smaller size than Odongja. When the size of Pill preparation was larger than Odongja, it was ground or boiled slightly to make suspensions. Conclusions : These results suggest that the sizes of Pill preparation in the Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases were true compared with reality.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.29-37
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• 2008

Based on 11 Classics of Materia Medica designated by Ministry of health and welfare bulletin 1995-15 as legal basis in scope and preparation of herbal prescription, we reviewed indication, property and processing of Rhus Verniciflua Stokes which appear extensively in literature since earlier Joseon Dynasty. Following is the conclusion of this review after comparing with 'Korean Pharmacopoeia: commentary on herbal product standard'. 1. The properties of Rhus Verniciflua Stokes in 'Korean Pharmacopoeia :commentary on herbal product standard' should be changed as 'Tonifying the middle, restoring the muscle, fulfilling marrow, breaking old static blood, tonifying and activating after removing mass, unblocking the meridian, killing worms' and indication should be changed as 'Old static blood, deep rooted mass, wind-cold-dampness arthralgia, cough, 9 types of chest pain, abdominal or flank accumulation of stagnated qi[氣], amenorrhea, hernia mass, small bowel or bladder colic pain, abdominal pain due to worm accumulation'. 2. The processing of Rhus Verniciflua Stokes in 'Korean Pharmacopoeia: commentary on herbal product standard' should include 'natural drying or steaming drying followed by grinding and stir-baking until ripened or smoking appears'.

• Journal of Evidence-Based Herbal Medicine
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.35-43
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• 2008

Herbal medicines have an accurate effect on atopic dermatitis, and at the same time, they hardly have adverse reactions. However, herbal medicines are difficult to be quantitatively analyzed due to low-quality preparation and types. In addition, herbal medicines have raised many problems as they have not been standardized and their active components have not been analyzed. Patients with atopic dermatitis began to recognize the effectivity and safety of herbal medicines. Accordingly, standardization, biological analyses, animal experiments and clinical trials should be generally performed in order that herbal medicines may be recognized all over the world. A standard, which is to objectively judge the curative effect of atopic dermatitis, should be established as soon as possible. Case studies and RCTs (Randomized Controlled Trials) should be actively performed on the basis of rigid clinical trial design to the end that the curative effect of herbal medicines is recognized all the world over.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2018

Background: Rehmanniae radix preparata (RRP) has been used as a traditional medicine and is one of the most important oriental herbal medicines. However, the physical characteristics of RRP are not suitable for use in industry. The present study was under-taken to determined the preparation method of RRP powder and the physicochemical characteristics of RRP powder by milling under different pre-freezing temperatures. Methods and Results: Moisture content, powder yield, particle size, bulk density, compressive stress, extraction yield, and 5-HMF content of PRR powders by milling with pre-freezing temperatures (-20, -40, -60, and $-80^{\circ}C$) were analyzed, and correlation among these factors was determined. Powder yield increased and particle size decreased in a pre-freezing temperature-dependent manner from -20 to $-60^{\circ}C$. The Hausner ratio increased from 1.186 to 1.225 with decreasing temperature from -20 to $-80^{\circ}C$, whereas compressive stress showed the opposite trend. Extraction yield and 5-HMF content were not significantly different between RRP powder. Significant correlations were observed among pre-freezing temperature and physical characteristics (e.g., yield, particle size, Hausner ratio, and compressive stress). Conclusions: These results suggest that the pre-freezing temperature is an important factor affecting the physical characteristics of PRR powder and applicable to the industrial production of RRP powder.