• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.116-135
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• 2019

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to analyze how purpura and vasculitis have been treated with Korean medicine and potentially to present with future direction of research and treatment. Methods : We searched clinical studies from the Korean databases including Oriental medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System(OASIS), Korean Traditional Knowledge Portal(KTKP), National Discovery for Science Leader(NDSL), Research Information Sharing Service(RISS), using keywords related to "Purpura" and "Vasculitis" from January 2000 to May 2019. Results : A total of 20 studies were selected for analysis. More than half of the patients provided with detailed information were under 19 year-olds, and upper respiratory infection, stress and fatigue, seasonal factor were among the most frequently stated as predisposing factors. Among many treatment modalities, herbal medicine was the most frequently used, followed by acupuncture and herbal acupuncture. 23 basic herbal medicine formulas were retrieved from 20 articles, most frequently used being Guibi-tang(歸脾湯加味), Samul-tang(四物湯加味) and Yukmijihwang-tang(六味地黃湯加味). In total, 122 Korean medicine herbs were used, most frequently used herbs being Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma(甘草), Angelicae Gigantis Radix(當歸), Poria Sclerotium(茯?) and Paeoniae Radix(芍藥). By its category, herbs were mostly classified into Tonyfying and replenishing medicinal(補益藥), Heat-clearing medicinal(淸熱藥) and Exterior-releasing medicinal(解表藥). Patients with total treatment period of 3 months or under were 2/3 of all cases provided with detailed information. Follow up periods were short in general with only 6 cases of over 6 months. The primary motive of patients to receive Korean medicine treatments was unresponsiveness or adverse effects of western medication. Conclusion : Through this literature review, we could find out tendencies of Korean medicine treatments of purpura and vasculitis up to date and some points that may have clinical significance.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.165-169
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• 2004

The fruits of Vitex rotundifolia in Korea, known as 'Man Hyung Ja', occupy an important position as traditional oriental medicine in Asian countries. It is known that propagation of this plant by seed is difficult and time-consuming with little success. Attempts were made to develop a method by using nodal culture techniques. Explants of stem node without leaves cultured on Nitsch medium containing 1 ml/L BA, gave the best shoot induction ratio. Also, BA with IAA or TDZ treatment showed positive effect on shoot induction. Half-strength Nitsch medium was supplemented with 0.5 mg/L NAA produced better success than did the others on root formation. It showed that many of the regenerants grew successfully on growth chamber at $24^{\circ}c$.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.833-842
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• 2020

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a commonly encountered large intestine disease in the contemporary world that terminates into colorectal cancer; therefore, the timely treatment of UC is of major concern. Panax ginseng Meyer is an extensively consumed herbal commodity in South East Asian countries, especially Korea. It exhibits a wide range of biologically beneficial qualities for almost head-to-toe ailments in the body. Epimedium koreanum Nakai (EKN) is also a widely used traditional Korean herbal medicine used for treating infertility, rheumatism, and cardiovascular diseases. Materials and methods: Separately the anti-inflammatory activities of both red ginseng extracts (RGEs) and EKNs had been demonstrated in the past in various inflammatory models; however, we sought to unravel the anti-inflammatory activities of the combination of these two extracts in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis in mice model because the allopathic remedies for UC involve more side effects than benefits. Results: Our results have shown that the combination of RGE + EKN synergistically alleviated the macroscopic lesions in DSS-induced colitic mice such as colon shortening, hematochezia, and weight loss. Moreover, it restored the histopathological lesions in mice and decreased the levels of proinflammatory mediators and cytokines through the repression of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and nucleotide-binding domain (NOD)-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP-3) expression. In vitro, this combination also reduced the magnitude of nitric acid (NO), proinflammatory mediators and cytokine through NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways in RAW 264.7 mouse macrophage cells. Conclusion: In the light of these findings, we can endorse this combination extract as a functional food for the prophylactic as well as therapeutic treatment of UC in humans together with allopathic remedies.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.365-375
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• 2024

Objectives : Herbal formula consist of multiple herbs, which can potentially interact with conventional drugs. If these interactions are not properly understood, they may reduce treatment efficacy or cause unexpected side effects. Thus, this study collected and analyzed papers on herbal formula and conventional drug interactions from PubMed to analyze various research trends. Methods : To analyze research trends on herbal formula and drug interactions, we first created search queries using a dictionary of herbal formula terms and collected related papers from PubMed using the Entrez API. The PubTator API was applied to identify compound names in the abstracts, recognizing compounds registered in the DrugBank as conventional drugs. Sentences describing interactions between herbal formulas and drugs were extracted using pattern matching, and relevant papers were selected. Trends were then analyzed by year, country, major formulas, major drugs, and interaction networks. Results : Yearly analysis showed a gradual increase in paper counts with a significant rise after 2010. Country analysis revealed that China published the most papers (53), followed by Japan (19) and South Korea (8). formula analysis identified 'sosiho-tang' and 'siryung-tang' as the most frequently mentioned (7 times each). Drug analysis showed '5-fluorouracil', 'acetaminophen', 'entecavir', and 'streptozotocin' were the most frequently mentioned (4 times each). Network analysis revealed 'sosiho-tang and tolbutamide' and 'siryung-tang and prednisolone' as the most frequently, mentioned interactions (3 times each). Disease analysis indicated 'urogenital diseases' were the most discussed (32 mentions), Followed by 'pathological conditions, signs, and symptoms' and 'digestive system diseases' (25 mentions each). Conclusions : Analyzing research trends on herbal formula and conventional drug interactions provides basic data for subsequent research, aiming to reduce side effects and enhance treatment efficacy in clinical settings.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.79-95
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• 2010

Background and Purpose : By preventing diseases caused by exogenous evil, disorder of internal organs, and seven modes of emotions and adapting to mother nature when the mind is unsettled, and keeping the body and mind relaxed diseases can be avoided, but there can be unpredicted situations caused accidentally by stroke. Currently the general prescription is regulating the flow of vital energy including drugs eliminating blood stasis. Even though the stroke is resulted from diseases caused by exogenous evil, by observing the patient's physical appearance, essence of life, vital energy, and mental faculties which are believed to be the functions of the heart to clear the upper body and invigorate the functions of the spleen and stomach and purge with drugs of warm nature is a closer approach than simply prescribing vital energy regulating drugs with eliminating blood stasis to the main purpose of treatment. Methods : 1) The subject of the study are 2 cases of patients who have visited the private hospital of the person who is announcing the results of the study. These patients have been given a diagnosis of edema or cystoma caused by bursitis in the knee joint through perception or medical examination and were waiting for operational application. 2) Sources related to stroke from Dong Eui Bo Gwam(東醫寶鑑) were used as the general standard of Korean Traditional Medicine, and to promote the understanding the original text and the translation has been given. 3) By observing the whole body such as the patient's usual physical appearance, essence of life, vital energy, and mental faculties which are believed to be the functions of the heart, or partly using the "Yin is even and well while Yang is firm" theory of "Plain Questions" as the background to present the results of the clinical study. Results and Conclusion : Generally the prescriptions from the first volume of Dong Eui Bo Gwam(東醫寶鑑) are mostly drugs eliminating stagnated blood including extravasated blood and the blood moving sluggishly in circulation or congested in a viscus, alleviating pain, invigorating blood circulation. Also prescriptions for bone fracture or fracture of bones and sinews are mostly to eradicate blood stasis with drastic drugs or coaptation drugs added to drugs eliminating stagnated blood including extravasated blood and the blood moving sluggishly in circulation or congested in a viscus, alleviating pain, invigorating vital energy, possessing warm properties for the Xue system.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.125-144
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• 2023

Objectives This study aimed to investigate domestic clinical research trends in Shinbaro pharmacopuncture, identify diseases managed using Shinbaro pharmacopuncture, and suggest the direction for future studies to increase its clinical utilization. Methods This study used five steps proposed by Arksey and O'Malley and the PRISMA-extension for scoping reviews checklist. We examined published literature on Shinbaro pharmacopuncture studies reported until June 5, 2023, in the following eight databases (Research Information Sharing Service, Science ON, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, KMBASE, The Society of Internal Korean Medicine, PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library). The search terms used were 'Shinbaro' or 'Sinbaro'. Results A total of 47 studies were included in our analysis. Of these, 37 (78.7%) were interference time series studies. Shinbaro pharmacopuncture was the most frequently used treatment for lumbosacral disease (n=15). In the facial area, ST4 and ST6 were used in five out of six studies, and in the shoulder area, TE14 and LI15 were used in all studies. Nine of the 15 studies in the lumbosacral area used the EX-B2. The other parts mostly used the pressure points. Compared to other pharmacopuncture methods, the treatment effect was similar to that of bee venom, and faster than that of jungsongouhyul. Conclusions This is the first scoping review of Shinbaro pharmacopuncture therapy in South Korea. Studies with a high level of evidence based on sole treatment, large capacities, and standardization of Shinbaro pharmacopuncture need to be conducted to increase its clinical utilization.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.1106-1115
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• 2009

Mori Ramulus has multiple applications in Korean traditional medicine prescription because it has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects by reducing macrophage activities. Yet, no studies on the anti-arthritic activity of EMR (extract of Mori Ramulus) have been reported in vitro and in vivo. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease with chronic inflammation characterized by hyperplasia of synovial cells in affected joints, which ultimately leads to the destruction of cartilage and bone. Because collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) is similar to RA in pathological symptoms and immune reactions, there have been several reports concerning RA using CIA mouse model. Here, we investigated the effects of Mori Ramulus on RA using CIA mice. The importance of CD4+ Th1 cells in RA progress was previously indicated and studies further showed that Th17 cells play a prime role in severity of disease. Accordingly, the present study was focused on CIA associated with CD4+ Th1 cells and Th1 7 cells. DBA/1OlaHsd mice were immunized with bovine type II collagen (CII). After a second collagen immunization, mice were treated with EMR once a day for 4 weeks. The severity of arthritis within the paw joints was evaluated by histological assessment of cartilage destruction and pannus formation. Immune cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), draining lymph node (DLN) and paw joints, cytokine production and gene expression were assessed from CIA mouse using ELISA, FACS and real-time PCR analysis. Administration of EMR significantly suppressed the progression of CIA and inhibited the production of TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6 and IL-17 in the serum. The erosion of cartilage was dramatically reduced in mouse knees after treatment with EMR. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that EMR significantly suppressed the progression of CIA and that this action was mediated by the decreased production of TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6, IL-17 and collagen II-specific antibody in the serum. EMR suppressed Th17 cells and reduced level of IL-6 via B cell suppression, and thus, the levels of autoantibodies produced from B cells were decreased. Furthermore, EMR suppressed NKT cells which directly stimulate B cells and develop imbalance of Th1/Th2 cell. Oral administration of EMR (100 mg/kg or 200 mg/kg) significantly suppressed the progression of CIA, which is comparable to that of methotrexate (MTX, 0.3 mg/kg) used as a positive control. We are currently studying the mechanism underlying the therapeutic role for EMR in CIA mice.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2019

Objectives : Nypa fruticans Wurmb. (NF) have been used as a traditional medicine to treat inflammatory diseases in East-South Asia. However, it is largely undiscovered whether NF water extract could exhibit anti-inflammatory activities against tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$)-induced inflammatory responses on human keratinocytes, HaCaT cells. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of NF water extract on TNF-${\alpha}$-induced inflammatory responses in HaCaT cells. Methods : To investigate the anti-inflammatory activites of NF water extract in HaCaT cells, the inflammatory model of HaCaT cells was established under a suitable concentration (10 ng/ml) of human TNF-${\alpha}$ (hTNF-${\alpha}$). HaCaT keratinocyte cells were pre-treated with NF water extract for 1 h, and then stimulated with hTNF-${\alpha}$. Then, the cells were harvested to measure the inflammatory mediators such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), and pro-inflammatory cytokine including TNF-${\alpha}$ and interleukin (IL)-6. In addition, we examined the inhibitory mechanisms of NF, mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and inhibitory kappa B alpha ($I{\kappa}-B{\alpha}$) Results : The treatment of NF inhibited the hTNF-${\alpha}$-induced elevation of iNOS, COX-2, and $PGE_2$ in HaCaT cells. In addition, NF treatment inhibited the hTNF-${\alpha}$-induced elevation of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6. Furthermore, NF treatment inhibited the activation of MAPKs but not degradation of $I{\kappa}-B{\alpha}$. Conclusions : Taken together, our result suggest that treatment of NF could inhibit the hTNF-${\alpha}$-induced inflammatory responses via deactivation of MAPKs in HaCaT cells. This study could suggest that NF could be a beneficial agent to prevent skin damage or inflammation.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.51-57
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• 2018

Objectives Low back disability, along with low back pain, places a significant social burden in terms of work loss and medical expenses. Motion-Style-Acupuncture-Treatment using Traction (T-MSAT) is employed as one of the conservative treatments to such conditions. In the present study, effectiveness of Korean Medical treatments, including T-MSAT, was investigated in inpatients with low back disability and low back pain. Methods Among the patients who were admitted between January 2018 to June 2018 with disabled low back function, ones that were treated with T-MSAT were identified. Pain and function were compared at the point of admission and discharge, using Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), respectively. Results Over the hospitalization period of 34.55 days, pain intensity significantly decreased from NRS score of 6.14 to 3.26 and low back function also significantly improved from ODI score of 50.93 to 33.73 upon receiving Korean Medical treatments including T-MSAT. Conclusions Korean Medical treatments including T-MSAT were found to be effective in inpatients with low back disability with a statistical significance. To evaluate the sole effectiveness of T-MSAT, rigorous clinical trials are necessitated in future.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 2002

In order to search for insulin-like substances from the constituted herbs of Sogal prescriptions, we selected 19 traditional herbs, based on a review of the Donguibogam. The effects of the hot-water extract from the selected herbs on the proliferation and the differentiation of 3T3-L1 fibroblasts were tested. The various water-extracts from Pinellia ternata, Magnolia obovata, Rheum palmatum, Acanthopanax sessiliflorun, Atractylodes japonica and Strychnos ignatii inhibited the proliferation of 3T3-L1 fibroblasts, did not influence entirely in differentiation of 3T3-L1 fibroblasts. Treatment of 3T3-L1 fibroblasts with the extract from Ephedra sinica, Trichosanthes kirilowii, Scrophularia buergeriana and Sophora flavescens significantly increased the differentiation of the cells. In conclusion, these may contain such compounds that play a role of insulin-like action.