Articles
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Systematic Review2022-12-31
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Efficacy and Safety of Fire Needling and Warm Needling on Acute Gout
Ji Hye Hwang1, Aejin Song2, Ho-Sueb Song1*J Pharmacopuncture 2022; 25(4): 301-316 https://doi.org/10.3831/KPI.2022.25.4.301Abstract : Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of heat stimuli (e.g., fire needling, warm needling) in acupuncture for acute gout.Methods: Four international online databases (PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure) were searched to identify randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) that used fire needling and warm needling for acute gout. The methodological quality of the RCTs was evaluated using the Cochrane risk-of-bias (RoB) tool. Thirteen RCTs (840 patients) were included and analyzed. Three evaluation tools (total effective rate, uric acid level, and pain score) were mainly used. Comparisons were made between Western medicine (WM) and i) fire needling or warm needling treatment alone, ii) fire needling and bloodletting combination treatment, iii) combination of fire needling, bloodletting, and herbal medicine, iv) warm needling (concurrently). Heat stimuli in acupuncture alone or in combination treatment were more effective in terms of the total efficacy rates, uric acid levels, and pain scores than WM alone.Results: In all the evaluation tools, the treatment effects in the fire needling alone or warm needling alone treatment group and the fire needling and bloodletting combination intervention group were significantly better than those in the WM control group. The warm needling and WM combination intervention groups also experienced significantly better treatment effects in terms of total efficacy rates and uric acid levels. Only the pain scores in the fire needling, bloodletting, and herbal medicine combination groups demonstrated significant improvement. Only four studies mentioned adverse reactions: one reported loss of appetite; three studies reported none. According to the Cochrane RoB tool, most studies showed either high or uncertain RoB.Conclusion: Heat stimuli during acupuncture could be effective for acute gout. However, as the included studies were regionally biased, more high-quality studies are needed to confirm the level of evidence.
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Review Article2022-12-31
Polysaccharides Obtained from Vegetables: an effective source of alternative excipient
Ananta Choudhury, Satyabrat Sarma*, Snehashis Sarkar, Madhusmita Kumari, Biplab Kumar DeyJ Pharmacopuncture 2022; 25(4): 317-325 https://doi.org/10.3831/KPI.2022.25.4.317Abstract : Polymers are the major constructive material of pharmaceutical formulations that play a prime role in designing effective drug-delivery systems and releasing drugs at their sites of application. Polymers are composed of multiple repeating units of high molecular mass components with attendant properties. Most synthetic polymers are non-biocompatible, expensive, and extremely inclined to deliver adverse impacts. Meanwhile, edible polymers obtained from natural sources have gained remarkable recognition for their promising use in modern medicine. Moreover, polymers derived from natural sources are generally preferred due to certain of their unique features such as abundant availability, biocompatibility, nontoxicity, economical, safe, and effective functions that fit the purpose. Polysaccharides including starch, cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin, and mucilage are identified as a major class of naturally obtained molecules that have a substantial role as functional polymers. This review summarizes the potential role of polysaccharides derived from vegetable sources such as adhesives, anticaking agents, binders, disintegrants, emulsifiers, film-framing agents, and thickeners. This is simply an opportunity to abandon synthetic excipients that hurt our bodies and think back to nature from where we originate.
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Review Article2022-12-31
Therapeutic Potential of Active Components from Acorus gramineus and Acorus tatarinowii in Neurological Disorders and Their Application in Korean Medicine
Cheol Ju Kim1, Tae Young Kwak1, Min Hyeok Bae1, Hwa Kyoung Shin1,2*, Byung Tae Choi1,2*J Pharmacopuncture 2022; 25(4): 326-343 https://doi.org/10.3831/KPI.2022.25.4.326Abstract : Neurological disorders represent a substantial healthcare burden worldwide due to population aging. Acorus gramineus Solander (AG) and Acorus tatarinowii Schott (AT), whose major component is asarone, have been shown to be effective in neurological disorders. This review summarized current information from preclinical and clinical studies regarding the effects of extracts and active components of AG and AT (e.g., α-asarone and β-asarone) on neurological disorders and biomedical targets, as well as the mechanisms involved. Databases, including PubMed, Embase, and RISS, were searched using the following keywords: asarone, AG, AT, and neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, depression and anxiety, epilepsy, and stroke. Meta-analyses and reviews were excluded. A total of 873 studies were collected. A total of 89 studies were selected after eliminating studies that did not meet the inclusion criteria. Research on neurological disorders widely reported that extracts or active components of AG and AT showed therapeutic efficacy in treating neurological disorders. These components also possessed a wide array of neuroprotective effects, including reduction of pathogenic protein aggregates, antiapoptotic activity, modulation of autophagy, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, regulation of neurotransmitters, activation of neurogenesis, and stimulation of neurotrophic factors. Most of the included studies were preclinical studies that used in vitro and in vivo models, and only a few clinical studies have been performed. Therefore, this review summarizes the current knowledge on AG and AT therapeutic effects as a basis for further clinical studies, and clinical trials are required before these findings can be applied to human neurological disorders.
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Original Article2022-12-31
Protective Effects of Auraptene against Free Radical-Induced Erythrocytes Damage
Khadijeh Jamialahmadi1,2, Amir Hossein Amiri3, Fatemeh Zahedipour2,4, Fahimeh Faraji5, Gholamreza Karimi6,7*J Pharmacopuncture 2022; 25(4): 344-353 https://doi.org/10.3831/KPI.2022.25.4.344Abstract : Objectives: Auraptene is the most abundant natural prenyloxycoumarin. Recent studies have shown that it has multiple biological and therapeutic properties, including antioxidant properties. Erythrocytes are constantly subjected to oxidative damage that can affect proteins and lipids within the erythrocyte membrane and lead to some hemoglobinopathies. Due to the lack of sufficient information about the antioxidant effects of auraptene on erythrocytes, this study intended to evaluate the potential of this compound in protecting radical-induced erythrocytes damages.Methods: The antioxidant activity of auraptene was measured based on DPPH and FRAP assays. Notably, oxidative hemolysis of human erythrocytes was used as a model to study the ability of auraptene to protect biological membranes from free radical-induced damage. Also, the effects of auraptene in different concentrations (25-400 μM) on AAPHinduced lipid/protein peroxidation, glutathione (GSH) content and morphological changes of erythrocytes were determined.Results: Oxidative hemolysis and lipid/protein peroxidation of erythrocytes were significantly suppressed by auraptene in a time and concentration-dependent manner. Auraptene prevented the depletion of the cytosolic antioxidant GSH in erythrocytes. Furthermore, it inhibited lipid and protein peroxidation in a time and concentration-dependent manner. Likewise, FESEM results demonstrated that auraptene reduced AAPH-induced morphological changes in erythrocytes.Conclusion: Auraptene efficiently protects human erythrocytes against free radicals. Therefore, it can be a potent candidate for treating oxidative stress-related diseases.
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Original Article2022-12-31
Assessment of Chronic Toxicity of an Ayurvedic Herbo-Metallic Formulation Rasaraj Rasa in Wistar Rats
Chaitali S. Waghmare1*, Shivcharan R. Bidve1, Ramacharya V. Gudi2, Megha L. Nalawade2, Mukesh B. Chawda3J Pharmacopuncture 2022; 25(4): 354-363 https://doi.org/10.3831/KPI.2022.25.4.354Abstract : Objectives: This study aimed to assess the adverse effects of Rasaraj Rasa tablets after repeated oral administration for 180 days in Wistar rats.Methods: Wistar rats were divided into five groups, of which three were treated with 54, 162, and 270 mg/kg body weight of Rasaraj Rasa, respectively, which correspond to one, three, and five times the proposed human therapeutic dose, for 180 days consecutively. The fifth group (satellite) also received 270 mg/kg body weight of Rasaraj Rasa for 180 days. Body weight and food intake were measured weekly. At the end of the study, all rats were sacrificed, and their blood, serum, and organs were collected and examined using hematology, serum biochemistry, gross pathology, and histopathology tests. In contrast, the satellite group was kept for 4 weeks after treatment.Results: No significant treatment-related toxicological findings were observed in the clinical features, body weight, laboratory findings, and pathological findings of the high-dose treated groups, when compared to those of the control group.Conclusion: The no-observed-adverse-effect-level for Rasaraj Rasa in Wistar rats is set at 270 mg/kg body weight.
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Original Article2022-12-31
Bacterial Reverse Mutation Test of Verbenalin
Hye Jeong Shin1, Yi Gun Lim1, Ji Su Ha2, Gabsik Yang1, Tae Han Yook1*J Pharmacopuncture 2022; 25(4): 364-368 https://doi.org/10.3831/KPI.2022.25.4.364Abstract : Objectives: Verbenalin is a compound found in herbs such as Cornus officinalis and Verbena officinalis. This study investigated whether verbenalin is safe by analyzing its mutagenicity.Methods: To examine the mutagenic potential of verbenalin, a bacterial reverse mutation test (Ames test) was conducted with Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli strains. Experiments with and without metabolic activity were performed.Results: The mean colony number was less than double that of the control. Growth inhibition and precipitation of verbenalin were not apparent in all strains at different concentrations regardless of metabolic activity.Conclusion: Verbenalin did not show any signs of mutagenicity in this study. Additional toxicity studies including repeated oral toxicity, reproductive toxicity, and carcinogenicity tests are needed.
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