Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation (한방재활의학과학회지)

The society of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation (한방재활의학과학회)
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Research Trends on Herbal Medicines for GLP-1 Secretion Modulation: A Scoping Review

한약을 통한 GLP-1 분비 조절에 대한 국내외 연구 동향 분석: 주제범위 문헌고찰

  • SunJun Kwon (Department of Clinical Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • YeongHyeon Kim (Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine, Chamjalham Hospital of Korean Medicine Suwon) ;
  • SukHyun Jeong (Department of Korean Rehabilitation Medicine, Chamjalham Hospital of Korean Medicine Suwon) ;
  • EnSung Cho (Department of Korean Rehabilitation Medicine, Chamjalham Hospital of Korean Medicine Suwon) ;
  • EuiJin Lee (College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Won-Seok Chung (Department of Clinical Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University)
  • 권순준 (경희대학교 대학원 임상한의학과) ;
  • 김영현 (참잘함한방병원 수원점 침구과) ;
  • 정석현 (참잘함한방병원 수원점 한방재활의학과) ;
  • 조은성 (참잘함한방병원 수원점 한방재활의학과) ;
  • 이의진 (경희대학교 한의과대학) ;
  • 정원석 (경희대학교 대학원 임상한의학과)
  • Received : 2025.09.16
  • Accepted : 2025.10.08
  • Published : 2025.10.31
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Abstract

Objectives This scoping review systematically analyzed research trends on herbal medicines that modulate glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP-1) secretion for obesity treatment, identifying commonly investigated herbs and characterizing current evidence to inform future research directions. Methods Following Arksey and O'Malley's framework, we searched nine databases (Korean: KoreanTK, Korean studies Inforamtion Service System, Oriental medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, Korea Citation Index, ScienceON; International: Web of Science, PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, EMbase) through August 2025. Two reviewers independently screened studies using predefined criteria and extracted data on study characteristics, interventions, and outcomes. Results From 412 records, 67 studies were included. Research increased steadily since 2010, with China (55.2%) and Korea (28.3%) dominating publications. Basic research comprised 85.1% of studies versus 14.9% clinical research, with only 6 randomized controlled trials identified. Among 104 herbs studied, Coptidis Rhizoma and Glycyrrhizae Radix were most frequent (15 studies each). Eighty-two percent of studies reported significant GLP-1 increases, with clinical studies showing mild adverse effects and no serious complications. Conclusions GLP-1-modulating herbal medicine research is expanding, concentrated in East Asia and focused on basic research. Frequent investigation of bitter herbs aligns with mechanistic understanding of taste receptor-mediated GLP-1 secretion. While preliminary evidence suggests safety and GLP-1 modulatory effects, current evidence remains insufficient for clinical implementation, requiring standardization studies and rigorous clinical trials.

Keywords

References

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