2018, Vol.18, No.1

Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research 2023 KCI Impact Factor : 0.43

pISSN : 1976-9334 / eISSN : 2288-1522
https://journal.kci.go.kr/jkomor

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the safety of 'Gamitaeeumjowee-tang' by analyzing adverse events in weight loss program in combination with 'Gamitaeeumjowee- tang' and low-calorie diet. Methods: A retrospective review of adverse events in weight loss program in combination with 'Gamitaeeumjowee-tang' and low-calorie diet from the electronic medical chart (n=124) between June 2015 and December 2016 was conducted. Three Korean Medicine Doctors (KMDs) reviewed adverse events for two times, during week 2 to 4 and at week 10, after starting weight loss program. Adverse events were evaluated in terms of causality, severity and system-organ classes. Also, agreement among the three KMDs was made through further discussion in case of disagreement after independent review. Results: The overall rate of adverse events was 37.1% during week 2 to 4 and 16.9% at week 10. For causality of adverse events using the World Health Organization-Uppsala Monitoring Centre causality categories, 52.2% were evaluated 'possible' at week 2-4 and 57.1% were evaluated 'unlikely' at week 10. All symptoms were evaluated as 'mild' by LDS scale. Nausea (15, 12.1%) was the most frequent adverse event at week 2-4 and dizziness (6, 4.8%) was the most common at week 10. Conclusions: Adverse events decreased over time. There were no serious adverse events and none of the subjects were dropped due to adverse events. Continuous study is needed to prove the safety of 'Gamitaeeumjowee-tang' for treating obesity.

Objectives: Metabolic syndrome is correlated with increased cardiovascular risk and characterized by several factors, including visceral obesity, hypertension, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia. Several members of a large family of nonselective cation entry channels, e.g., transient receptor potential (TRP) melastatin 7 (TRPM7) channels have been associated with the development of cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Dangkwisoo-san, ginger and curcumin on TRPM7 channel. Methods: Human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells stably transfected with the TRPM7 expression vectors were maintained in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 1% penicillin/streptomycin, 5 µg/mL blasticidin, and 0.4 mg/mL zeocin in a humidified 20% O2/10% CO2 atmosphere at 37℃. Whole-cell patch clamp recordings were obtained using an Axopatch 700B amplifier and pClamp v.10.4 software, and signals were digitalized at 5 kHz using Digidata 1422A. Results: Dangkwisoo-san extract (100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 µg/mL) inhibited the outward and inward TRPM7 whole-cell currents at dose dependent manner and the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC)50 of Dangkwisoo-san was 218.3 µg/mL. Also, ginger extract (100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 µg/mL) inhibited the outward and inward of TRPM7 whole-cell currents in a dose dependent manner and the IC50 of ginger was 877.2 µg/mL. However, curcumin had no effects on TRPM7 whole-cell currents. Conclusions: These results suggest that both Dangkwisoo-san and ginger have good roles to inhibit the TRPM7 channel, suggesting that Dangkwisoo-san and ginger are considered one of the candidate agents for the treatment of metabolic syndrome such as cardiovascular disease.

Objectives: Alcoholic fatty liver is a potentially pathologic condition which can progress to steatohepatitis, fibrosis, and cirrhosis. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of Scutellaria Radix (SR) extract on the alcoholic fatty liver induced by long-term EtOH administration. Results: Male Sprague Dawley rats were used in this study. All animals were randomly divided into Normal group, treated with saline (n=10); EtOH group, treated with ethanol (n=10); EtOH+SR group, treated with ethanol+Scutellaria Radix extract (n=10). For oral administration of ethanol in EtOH and EtOH+SR group, the ethanol was dissolved in distilled water in concentrations of 25% (v/v). Throughout the experiment of 8 week, the rats were allowed free access to water and standard chow. Sample group were administrated by Scutellaria Radix extract daily for 8 weeks. Results: The levels of hepatic marker such as aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase were altered. Histopathological changes such as ballooning, fatty and hydropic degeneration were reduced and the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was significantly attenuated by Scutellaria Radix extract. Conclusions: These data suggest that Scutellaria Radix extract attenuated the alcoholic simple fatty liver by improving hepatic lipid metabolism via suppression of TNF-α protein. Scutellaria Radix could be effective in protecting the liver from alcoholic fatty liver.