• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.202-208
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• 2012

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed to determine residues of cyromazine, a triazine insecticide, in agricultural commodities. Cyromazine was extracted with 90% aqueous methanol from representative crops which comprised brown rice, oyster mushroom, oriental melon, watermelon, and Chinese cabbage. Following to evaporation of methanol in the extract, the aqueous concentrate was acidified to form the protonated cyromazine. Dichloromethane partition was then applied to remove nonpolar co-extractives in the aqueous phase. Strong cation-exchange chromatography using Dowex 50W-X4 resin was employed for final purification of the extract. Cyromazine was successfully separated on a Zorbax SB-Aq $C_{18}$ column showing high retention for polar compounds. Cyromazine was sensitively quantitated by ultraviolet absorption at 214 nm. Limit of quantitation (LOQ) of the method was 0.04 mg/kg irrespective of sample types. Each crops were fortified at 3 different concentrations of cyromazine for recovery test. Mean recoveries from samples fortified at LOQ~2.0 mg/kg in triplicate ranged 80.2~103.3% in five agricultural commodities. Relative standard deviations in recoveries were all less than 6%. A selected-ion monitoring LC/MS method with electrospray ionization in positive-ion mode was also provided to confirm the suspected residue. The proposed method was reproducible and sensitive enough to routinely determine and inspect the residue of cyromazine in agricultural commodities.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.13-25
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• 2018

Objectives We investigated anti-obesity effects of essential oils extracted from Cnidii Rhizoma (CR) in immature adipocytes to magnify it's clinical therapeutic usage. Methods Essential oil of CR was extracted with ethyl acetate or petroleum ether and through steam distillation, respectively. Oil red-O staining for monitoring its inhibition effect on adipogenesis and differentiation in murine 3T3-L1 adipocytes and 3-(4,5-methylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyletetra zolium bromide (MTT) assay for cell safety were done. Also phospho-adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activted protein kinase (P-AMPK), AMP-activated protein kinase, phospho-acetyl-CoA carboxylase (P-ACC), acetyl-CoA carboxylase, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-${\alpha}$ (PPAR-${\alpha}$), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-${\gamma}$ (PPAR-${\gamma}$) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein ${\alpha}$ (C/EBP-${\alpha}$) expressions as obesity-related factors were measured by western blot analysis. Results Protein expressions of P-AMPK, P-ACC and PPAR-${\alpha}$ were increased in essential oils-treated adipocytes compared to those of control group, respectively. Furthermore, protein expressions of PPAR-${\gamma}$ and C/EBP-${\alpha}$ were decreased in essential oils-treated adipocytes compared to those of control group, respectively. Conclusions These results demonstrate that essential oils of CR inhibit adipogenesis and differentiation. Also they promote the oxidation of fatty acids in adipocytes. Thus, results suggest that essential oils of CR could be used as a valuable material for anti-obesity therapeutics via control of lipid metabolism.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.76-85
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• 2015

Objectives: Radix Ginseng has been traditionally used as an adaptogen that acts on the adrenal cortex and stimulates or relaxes the nervous system to restore emotional and physical balance and to improve well-being in cases of degenerative disease and/or old age. Radix Ginseng has been used for a long time, but the safety of ginseng pharmacopuncture needs testing. This study was done to analyze the single-dose toxicity of water- soluble ginseng pharmacopuncture (GP) intramuscular injections in rats. Methods: All experiments were performed at Biotoxtech, an institution authorized to perform non clinical studies under the regulations of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). Each group contained 10 Sprague-Dawley rats, 5 males and 5 females. GP was prepared in a sterile room at the Korean Pharmacopuncture Institute under regulations of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). GP dosages were 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 mL for the experimental groups; normal saline was administered to the control group. The animals general condition was examined daily for 14 days, and the rats were weighed on the starting day and at 3, 7 and 14 days after administration of the pharmacopuncture. Hematological and biochemistry tests and autopsies were done to test the toxicological effect of GP after 14 days. This study was performed with approval from the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee of Biotextech. Results: No deaths were found in this single-dose toxicity test of intramuscular injections of GP, and no significant changes in the general conditions, body weights, hematological and biochemistry tests, and autopsies were observed. The local injection site showed no changes. Based on these results, the lethal dose was assumed to be over 1.0 mL/animal in both sexes. Conclusion: These results suggest that GP is relatively safe. Further studies, including a repeated toxicity test, are needed to provide more concrete evidence for the safety of GP.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.202-212
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• 2022

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Cheong-A-Won Gagambang (JCE003) treatment for degenerative knee osteoarthritis. Methods: This was a single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot clinical trial. There were 36 adults with degenerative knee osteoarthritis who were randomly allocated into JCE003 1,000 mg, JCE003 2,000 mg, or the placebo group (in a 1:1:1 ratio). The participants received 12 weeks of treatment and had scheduled tests every 6 weeks. The primary outcomes were measured using the Korean Western Ontario and McMaster Universities scale, and the secondary outcomes were measured using the visual analog scale, European quality of life-5-dimensions, patient global impression of change, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Changes between baseline scores and scores following study completion were analyzed. Results: There were 29 participants whose data were analyzed in this study. The change of Korean Western Ontario and McMaster Universities, visual analog scale, European quality of life-5-dimensions scores showed significant improvement in the JCE003 1,000 mg group. The change of patient global impression of change was significantly improved in the placebo group. There were 14 adverse events, but there was no clinically significant relationship with the intake of JCE003 compared with the placebo. Conclusion: Taking JCE003 may be effective at improving knee pain in patients with degenerative knee osteoarthritis and appears to be safe. Based on this study, the concentration and feasibility of the test group may be used when conducting a large-scale clinical trial of degenerative knee osteoarthritis in the future.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.238-244
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• 2023

Background: Occipital neuralgia (ON) is an established risk factor for headaches in the posterior cervical region. Several conservative treatments by nerve decompression and pain relief are available for ON, but these treatments have limitations. Acupuncture treatment, which is known to demonstrate analgesic effects, involves various stimulation methods, and several studies have reported their clinical benefit. No recent systematic review (SR) has compared each acupuncture type for ON treatment. Thus, this SR aims to investigate the clinical effectiveness of each acupuncture type for treating ON. Methods: We will identify relevant studies using electronic databases, including EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Korean Studies Information Service System (KISS), Korean Medical Database, KoreaMed, and National Digital Science Library (NDSL) from the inception until August 2023. The primary outcome will include the numerical change of pain symptoms (visual analog scale and numerical rating scale) and effective rate. Safety and secondary outcomes will include adverse events and quality of life. We will compare the conservative treatment with the acupuncture treatment using network meta-analysis. The Cochrane Collaboration "risk of bias" tools will be used to assess the quality of included trials. The Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation will be used to examine the evidence level. Conclusion: This study will provide clinical evidence of several acupuncture types for ON and help clinicians decide on the best.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.145-149
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• 2010

Objectives : Since cosmetics have been one of the help of life, unlike medicine, natural products have been used for cosmetics, generally giving the image of safety and relief compared to synthetic products. Among them, Houttuynia cordata has been known as a useful herbal medicine with antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activities. In this study, we were to use Houttuynia cordata extract on formulation of cosmetic emulsions. Methods : The effects of Houttuynia cordata extract on emulsion stability and viscoelastic properties of emulsion were measured using turbiscan and rheometer. And we assessed the anti-oxidative and antibiotic activities of Houttuynia cordata extract. Results : 1. The results of this investigation for emulsion stability showed that the stability emulsion containing Houttuynia cordata extract was decreased depending on concentration of Houttuynia cordata extract. 2. Super oxide dismutase activity was strongly dependents on concentration of Houttuynia cordata extract. 3. Houttuynia cordata extract showed good anti-microbial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Conclusions : Houttuynia cordata extract can be effectively used in cosmetic emulsions when the relation between natural product extracts and formulation of cosmetics is elucidated.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.187-195
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this report is to report the clinical application and safety of oriental treatment to pain and symptoms caused by traffic accident during early pregnancy. Methods: The three patients who suffered from several pain and symptoms caused by traffic accident during early pregnancy were treated with herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping therapy and physical treatment during their admission. And we followed up by phone call after their delivery. Results: Patients' pain and symptoms of this case were improved with oriental treatment during their admission. And serious side effects were not found on the patients and infants after treatment. Conclusion: This report shows that oriental treatment can be effective for those who suffering from several pain and symptoms caused by traffic accident during early pregnancy.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2012

Objective: This experimental study was designed to investigate the safety and the effectiveness of Samjeong pharmacopuncture solution (SPS) manufactured by using a the lowtemperature extract on process. Methods: To identify the safety and the effectiveness of using SPS as eye drops, we performed applied eye irritation tests on rabbits and antibacterial tests for Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxysporum, and Candida albicans. The eye irritation test was performed according to the toxicity testing regulation of the Korea Food & Drug Administration (2009. 8. 24, KFDA 2009-116). After SPS had been applied on the left eye of the rabbits, eye irritation in the cornea, iris and conjunctiva was observed on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 7th day. After SPS had been dropped on bacterial species that cause keratitis, the minimum inhibition concentration and the size of the inhibition zone were measured. The anti-bacterial potency was also measured by taking the size of inhibition zone. Results: After SPS had been administered on the left eye of the rabbits, none of nine rabbits were found to show abnormal signs or weight changes. After SPS had been administered on the left eye of the rabbits, no eye irritation in the cornea, iris and conjunctiva was observed on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 7th day. No specific response was detected in MIC for bacterial species Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxysporum, and Candida albicans after SPS had been applied. Conclusions: This study suggests that SPS is a non-toxic and non-irritant medicine that does not cause any of eye irritation in rabbits, but it has no antibacterial effects on bacterial species that are well known to cause keratitis. These results suggest that more research is required on extracts from herbal medicines for treating keratitis.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.138-147
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• 2019

Objectives: This study was to report clinical effect and safety of Traditional Korean Medical Treatment including Hwangryunhaedok-tang Pharmacopuncture for pregnant woman with low back pain with sciatica. Methods: The patient who suffered from sudden low back pain with sciatica was treated with Hwangryunhaedok-tang Pharmacopuncture, acupuncture, moxibustion, herbal medication and cupping therapy during admission. Visual Analog Score (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), McGill pain questionnaire-short form (SF-MPQ) were checked to measure the outcome. Results: After treatment, Visual Analog Score (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), McGill pain questionnaire-short form (SF-MPQ) were considerably improved in this case. Conclusions: The results indicate that Traditional Korean Medical Treatment including Hwangryunhaedok-tang Pharmacopuncture is the effective therapy for low back pain with sciatica during pregnancy.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.644-657
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• 2020

Objectives: The aim of this study was to systematically evaluate the clinical therapeutic effects and safety of the Zeo lyung tang (ZLT) on primary glomerulonephritis (PGN). Methods: The MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, CENTRAL, CNKI, RISS, NDSL, KISS, and OASIS databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) testing the effects of ZLT on PGN. The Cochrane collaboration bias risk assessment scale was used to evaluate the methodological quality of the included studies. RevMan 5.3 software was used for data analysis. Results: Ten RCTs involving 781 patients were included in the review. Compared with conventional Western medicine (WM) therapy alone, a combination treatment of ZLT and WM improved the total effective rate (RR=1.24; 95%CI [1.16, 1.33]; p<0.00001), reduce the blood urea nitrogen (BUN; MD=-1.05; 95%CI [-1.32, -0.78]; p<0.00001) and the 24-hour urinary protein (MD=-0.38; 95%CI [-0.46, -0.29]; p<0.00001). Conclusions: The combination of ZLT with WM has therapeutic effects on PGN, and it has advantages over WM treatment alone in reducing BUN and 24-hour urinary protein. However, due to the low quality of the included studies and the small sample sizes, additional research is needed in this area.