• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.51-61
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• 2016

Background : Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common adverse effect in cancer patients who were exposed to chemotherapy. CIPN impacts on the quality of life and could delay chemotherapy. The aim of this review was to assess the therapeutic effectiveness of herbal medicine in CIPN patients. Methods : Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included in this review. We searched MEDLINE, Cochrane database, EMBASE, CNKI, Wanfang and four Korean databases without restrictions on time or language. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Results : Eleven RCTs involving 706 patients met the inclusion criteria. Eleven different herbal medicines were examined in the included trials. Almost RCTs showed insufficiency in the reporting randomization method and allocation concealment. One trial used allocation concealment and a double-blinding method. Five studies reported that participants dropped out of RCTs and conducted an 'as-treated analysis'. One trials reported adverse effects of herbal medicine. In ten of the eleven trials, the use of herbal medicine had shown significant differences in clinical symptoms or nerve conduction velocity. Conclusions : The use of herbal medicines for CIPN showed significant improvements in the management of CIPN. However, conclusions cannot be drawn because of the generally low quality of methodology and low quantity of data for each single herbal medicine. Further rigorous trials are needed.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.90-111
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• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze randomized controlled trials (RCTs) related to the effect and safety of Korean Traditional Medicine treatment for postpartum pain, and to suggest desirable future clinical research trend. Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on postpartum pain were searched using domestic and foreign search engines to investigate the effect and safety of Korean Traditional Medicine on postpartum pain, and 12 studies were selected as a result. Results: There were 4 studies using Acupoint Therapy, 3 studies using Herbal Medicine, 3 studies using Using Acupoint Therapy and Herbal Medicine together, and 2 studies using Manipulative Therapy for postpartum pain. As control interventions, non-treatment, other Korean Traditional Medicine treatment, or Western medicine were used. All the studies reported a significant effect in experimental group compared to the control group, with no or minor side effects. Conclusions: Korean Traditional Medicine treatment showed effectiveness and safety for postpartum pain. In the future, it is necessary to eliminate the ambiguity of recruiting subjects and to study the most effective application method of Korean Traditional Medicine treatment for postpartum pain.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.65-74
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• 2002

Inflammation is a disease that continues to afflict large numbers of people and may cause other diseases, for example, rheumatoid arthritis, colon cancer, etc. prostaglandins(PGs), one of arachidonic acid metabolites, are major chemical mediators in the process of inflammation. In traditional herbal medicine, many kinds of herbal drugs have been widely used for the treatment of inflammation. So, we analyzed many publications until 2001 which worked on inhibition of $PGE_2$ synthesis by cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) with herbs and herb oriented single compounds. And then we tried to make interpretations of herbal traditional prescriptions for inflammation. There are significant correlations between herbal medicine prescribed and inhibitions of COX-2 activity. From our efforts and further researches, we expect to develop new-inflammatory herbal drugs which have more efficacy and fewer side effects.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.37-48
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• 2013

The review of the literature had been done to investigate the mechanism of the herbal medicines contained in traditional Korean medical books. We had thought the results could provide the theoretical basis of adding herbal medicies to functional drink. This study is a document research in cluding a historical review of traditional beverages from after the period of the Joseon Dynasty, analysis of the characteristics of tradition the herbal medicine of the Joseon entered the new stage at the era of King Sejong. In the reign of Sejong, there had been a noticeable increase in kinds of herbs. Besides understanding the quality of herbs by provinces, the Joseon government also had pushed ahead with increase policy of herbs. The more the standard of living and incomes have increased, the more the concern of our health has been raised. This social phenomenon has affected on the food& beverage industry. The food& beverage industry of Korea has been already reorganized like the ones in developed countries in the early 21st century. Consumers are particular choosing their beverages; they concern their health, convenience, and taste more than ever. We had selected several herbal medicines contained in functional drink, and investigated the mechanism in field of oriental medicine and pharmacology.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.47-59
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• 2014

Objectives: Most drug interactions are attributed to the inhibition or induction of the activity of cytochrome P450s (CYP450). Although the regulation of CYP450s by drugs has been widely reported, there have been few studies on influence of traditional herbal formulas on the drug-metabolizing enzymes. Because herbal formulas have been used traditionally to treat various diseases and because herb-drug interactions are crucial factors determining therapeutic efficacies, a systematic evaluation of the effects of herbal formulas is important. Methods: The effects of Galgeun-tang (GGT, gegen tang), Gumiganghwal-tang (GMGHT, jiuweiqianghuo tang), Insampaedok-san (ISPDS, renshenbaidu powder), Samsoeum (SSE, shensu drink), Socheongryong-tang (SCRT, xiaoqinglong-tang) and Sosiho-tang (SSHT, xiaochaihu tang) that are traditional herbal formulas used to treat common cold, on drug-metabolizing enzymes were evaluated through an in vitro CYP3A4, CYP2D6, CYP2C19 and CYP2E1 inhibition assay to assess its interaction potential with synthetic drugs. The inhibitory effects of herbal formulas were characterized with $IC_{50}$ values. Results: These six herbal formulas inhibited the activities of CYP3A4, 2C19, 2D6 and 2E1, in a concentration-dependent manner. Among the six herbal formulas, GGT critically inhibited CYP2C19, CYP2D6 and CYP2E1. GMGHT also inhibited CYP2D6 and CYP2E1 to a greater extent than the other CYP450 isozymes. Additionally, SSE and SSHT may change the effects of medicines that depend primarily on the CYP2C19 and CYP2E1 pathways. On the other hand, ISPDS and SCRT were not inhibited CYP3A4, CYP2C19, CYP2D6 and CYP2E1-mediated metabolism. Conclusions: These findings provide useful information regarding the safety and effectiveness of herbal formulas.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.163-176
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• 2009

Objectives : To address most probable and suitable method for designing clinical trial intervening Traditional Korean Herbal Medicine on hwa-byung. Study Design : A systematic review of research studies of complementary and/or alternative medical(CAM) treatment of depression, and of domestic clinical trials of Traditional Korean Medicine, and of Chinese clinical trials of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Methods : Randomized, controlled trials(RCTs) of treatment of depression intervening herbal medicine were searched through MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and CNKI databases. Also, domestic RCTs intervening Traditional Korean Herbal Medicine were searched through Korean Traditional Knowledge Portal and Korean studies Information Service System(KISS). Studies were evaluated using Iadad scale and self-designed tool for this study. Results : Thirty four RCT studies( 10 from MEDLINE, 16 from CNKI, 8 domestic studies) of herbal medicine met inclusion criteria. Mean Jadad score of studies published in English was 2.8${\pm}$0.79, in Chinese 1.94${\pm}$0.77, and in Korean 2.75${\pm}$0.71. Twenty one percent of studies included pattern differentiation in their inclusion criteria. Twenty nine percent of studies used combined treatment of herbal and conventional medicine. Among studies on depression, 9% included Complementary Medical assessing tools. Conclusions : There is shortage of domestic clinical trial involving herbal medicine. In China, studies tend to focus on investigating effect of Combined treatment of herbal and conventional medicine on depression. Clinical trial(s) of hwa-byung should provide good internal validity by describing methodology for randomization, double-blinding, and attrition. Also, specific guideline for clinical trial, including Traditional Korean Medical aspects across inclusion criteria, and assessing tools is needed.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.141-146
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• 2005

Objectives: To investigate the effect of Ginseng herbal acupuncture at GB39 and ST36 on growth in mice. Methods: Mice were divided into four groups (n=10); G-ST36 group treated with Ginseng Radix herbal acupuncture at right ST36, G-GB39 group treated with the same at GB39, Control-ST36 group and Control-GB39 group injected with saline at right ST36 and GB39 respectively. The saline injection and herbal acupuncture were performed 3 times a week for 3 weeks. The length( total height, body length and tail length), weight and the protein efficiency ratio were measured as well as IGF-I level in serum Results: The weights of Ginseng herbal acupuncture groups were not significantly increased compared to the control groups but the protein efficiency ratios were significantly higher in Ginseng herbal acupuncture groups compared to the control groups. The increases of the total length, body length and tail length were significantly higher in Ginseng herbal acupuncture groups than the control groups. The serum IGF-I level of G-GB39 was significantly increased compared to control-GB39, not that of G-ST36 compared to control-ST36. Conclusions: Ginseng herbal acupuncture at GB39 and ST36 are both effective to promote growth in terms of height and weight. GB39 may be effective for growth by way of increasing IGF-I, and more closely related to growth in height than ST36.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.1-8
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• 2010

Objective: The study aimed to review all randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) performed in Korea with herbal medicine, to produce further useful information for herbal-drug development. Methods: All papers reporting RCT with herbal drugs were collected via public database of Korea Science and Technology Integration Services, and various Oriental medicine journals. Then, the clinical question, herbal medicine, result, RCT design, and its conductor were analyzed. Results: A total of 20 RCTs were finally selected, and most of them were performed after 2003. The main subjects of RCT were related to heart and blood circulation, dermatitis, respiration disorder, Sasang constitution, or psychiatric disorders. Eight RCTs were done with a single herb while 12 RCTs were with multiple herbal formulae. In particular, three RCTs for atopic dermatitis with three formulae showed positive results. The quality of RCT was considered as better than average. Conclusions: This study revealed the current status of RCT using herbal drugs. This result would provide helpful information for research and drug development using traditional herbal medicine.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.388-393
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• 2009

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) have been implicated in the development of diabetic complications. The AGEs inhibitors or cross-link breakers attenuate various functional and structural manifestations of diabetic complications. In this study, 64 herbal medicines from China and Vietnam have been investigated with an in vitro evaluation system using AGEs inhibitory activity. Of these, eight herbal medicines ($IC_{50}$<50 ${\mu}g$/ml) were found to have strong AGEs inhibitory activity compared with aminoguanidine (14 days, $IC_{50}$=75.98 ${\mu}g$/ml; 28 days, $IC_{50}$=88.27 ${\mu}g$/ml). Particularly, four herbal medicines, Buddleja officinalis (whole plant), Syzygium cuminii (leaf), Eugenia caryophyllate (seed), and Paeonia suffruticosa (root) showed more potent inhibitory activity (approximately 5-6 fold) than the positive control aminoguanidine.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.506-513
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• 1996

The odor theory(氣味論) has been defined as the Nature(氣) and the Taste(味) of traditional herbal medicine to find the logic in treatment of various diseases by them. There is a strong possibility these Natures of the drug can be categorized according to yin(陰) and yang(陽). To understand the Hot and the Cold Natures of traditional herbal drugs in scientific approaches, changes in skin, rectal temperature of rats have been measured at 0, 30, 60, 90 min after a 5, 10, 20g/Kg oral administration each of Coptidis Rizoma(Ranunculaceae, Coptis chinesis, $F_{RANCH}$), Aconiti Lateralis Preparata Radix(Ranunculaceae, Aconitum carmichaeli $D_{EBX}$). From this study, we obtained as follows. 1. We can categorize the four Natures of drug according to yin(陰) - Cool and Cold Natures and yang(陽) - Warm and Hot Natures. 2. The relation between the four Natures of drug and the changes of body temperature can be studied as the considertion of the dosage and the preparation of crude medicines. 3. Herbs containing toxicant should be studied carefully without the side effects.