Effective management of early diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) is essential for reducing the risks of amputation and mortality. Affordable wound dressings are particularly important for low-income patients because wound healing often requires prolonged treatment. This case report describes the effects of a combined intervention on wound status and quality of life in a 54-year-old woman with a Grade 2 DFU located on the right heel. Following six weeks of standard wound care administered twice weekly at a local healthcare facility, together with glycemic self-management, the patient's blood glucose level improved from 380 mg/dL to 130 mg/dL. Despite improved glycemic control, wound healing remained limited, and the patient continued to experience substantial impairment in quality of life due to ulcer-related pain. The intervention consisted of a honey/gotu kola/κ-carrageenan base (HGCB) hydrogel film dressing applied daily in a home-care setting, combined with mechanical debridement and structured glycemic self-management. Quality of life was assessed using the Diabetic Foot Ulcer Scale. A cost analysis comparing HGCB hydrogel dressing with standard wound care was performed over an equivalent treatment duration. By week 12, blood glucose remained controlled, while malodor, firmly adherent slough, and peri-wound maceration had resolved, accompanied by marked improvement in quality of life. Furthermore, the cost of care associated with the HGCB hydrogel dressing was approximately half that of standard wound care. Although derived from a single case, these findings provide preliminary data for future larger-scale investigations. No adverse reactions or treatment-related complications were observed during intervention therapy.
Objectives: Researchers have traditionally viewed Hwa-byung (HB) as a culture-bound syndrome specific to Korea. However, no studies have examined how racial discrimination experienced by foreigners and naturalized citizens contributes to HB in Korea's increasingly multicultural society. The present study investigated how experiences of racial discrimination influence HB among foreigners and naturalized Korean citizens living in Korea and offers a new perspective on the concept of culture-bound syndromes. Methods: In June 2025, a web-based cross-sectional survey collected responses from 601 foreigners and naturalized citizens aged 19 years or older who had lived in Korea for at least one year. The analysis used multivariate binary logistic regression with HB presence as the dependent variable. Results: The overall prevalence of HB was 23.8%. Individuals who consistently experienced racial discrimination had 10.581-fold higher odds of HB (95% CI: 1.920-58.308), representing the strongest association in the analysis. Poor subjective health status (OR = 2.602), higher HB trait scores (OR = 1.134), higher depression scores (OR = 1.147), and higher stress scores (OR = 1.130) also significantly increased the likelihood of HB. Conclusion: HB among foreigners and naturalized citizens residing in Korea shows preliminary associations with experiences of racial discrimination, raising the theoretical question of whether HB's etiological mechanism may extend beyond its original cultural context. The finding that those who consistently experience racial discrimination showed more than a 10-fold higher odds of HB presence represents a preliminary finding that warrants replication in larger samples.
Objectives: Diabetes mellitus is a progressive metabolic disorder broadly classified into insulin-deficient (type 1) and insulin-resistant (type 2) forms. Both forms ultimately lead to chronic hyperglycemia and pancreatic dysfunction, posing a major global health burden. Limitations associated with the long-term use of conventional antidiabetic drugs have encouraged investigation of plant-based treatments that may offer safer therapeutic benefits. Although Cinnamon species have traditionally been used to manage metabolic disorders, evidence from solvent-fraction studies demonstrating their antidiabetic efficacy remains limited. Methods: This study evaluated the antidiabetic activity of ethyl acetate fractions obtained from Cinnamomum tamala (Buch.-Ham.) T. Nees & C. H. Eberm. (CT) leaves and Cinnamomum verum J. Presl (CV) bark in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic Wistar rats. Acute oral toxicity was assessed according to OECD guideline 423. Diabetic rats were treated with the ethyl acetate fractions at doses of 150 and 200 mg/kg body weight for 28 days, with metformin (100 mg/kg) used as the standard drug. Body weight and fasting blood glucose levels were recorded, and the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and pancreatic histopathology were used to assess antihyperglycemic efficacy and tissue-protective effects. Results: Both fractions were safe up to 2,000 mg/kg. STZ-induced diabetic rats showed weight loss, hyperglycemia, impaired glucose metabolism, and pancreatic β-cell damage. Treatment with both fractions dose-dependently lowered fasting blood glucose and improved glucose tolerance. Cinnamomum verum at 200 mg/kg showed significant antihyperglycemic activity, although its effect remained lower than that of metformin. Histopathological findings suggested that high-dose ethyl acetate fractions preserved pancreatic structure and β-cell integrity. Conclusion: The ethyl acetate fractions of Cinnamomum tamala and Cinnamomum verum demonstrated notable antidiabetic effects by improving glycemic control and protecting pancreatic islets in STZ-induced diabetic rats, supporting their traditional use and potential as plant-based therapies.
Objectives: Oxidative stress contributes to skin damage and hyperpigmentation through excessive melanin production. Tyrosinase plays a central role in melanogenesis by catalyzing the oxidation of tyrosine to melanin precursors. Although several tyrosinase inhibitors are available, their clinical use is limited due to adverse effects. Therefore, identifying safer inhibitors with concomitant antioxidant properties remains of considerable interest. In ethnomedicine, Urtica urens L. (Urticaceae) is traditionally used to treat inflammatory conditions. This study aims to evaluate the antioxidant, tyrosinase inhibitory, and photoprotective activities of its ethanolic extract. Methods: Here, 80% ethanolic extract of U. urens aerial parts (E) was chemically characterized and standardized based on total polyphenol, flavonoid, and chlorogenic acid contents. Antioxidant activity was assessed by inhibiting UV-induced lipid peroxidation in egg yolk. Tyrosinase inhibitory activity was evaluated using mushroom tyrosinase, and kinetic analysis was conducted to determine the inhibition mechanism. The in vitro sun protection factor was also determined. Results: E inhibited UV-induced lipid peroxidation (EC50 = 44.4 µg/mL) and exhibited tyrosinase inhibitory activity (EC50 = 1,016 µg/mL, relative to the maximal observed effect), with a mixed-type inhibition pattern. The extract also showed in vitro photoprotective capacity. Chlorogenic acid was identified as the major polyphenolic constituent; although it exhibited antioxidant and anti-tyrosinase activities, its concentration in the extract did not fully account for the overall inhibitory effect observed. Conclusion: The findings indicate that the biological activities of E likely result from the combined action of multiple phytochemical constituents. These findings support its potential as a source of bioactive compounds for cosmetic and dermatological applications targeting oxidative and pigmentation-related skin alterations.
Objectives: Polysaccharides from diverse plant species have been consumed since ancient times to meet human energy needs. In recent years, plant-derived polysaccharides have gained scientific interest for their potential medicinal properties. Multiple studies indicate that these compounds exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activities. This study evaluated the antioxidant and antidiabetic properties of polysaccharides extracted from Allium sativum (ASP) and Allium cepa (ACP). Methods: Polysaccharides were isolated by hot-water extraction followed by ethanol precipitation. The extracts were chemically characterized through phytochemical tests and FT-IR analysis. Antioxidant and antidiabetic activities were assessed using DPPH radical scavenging, α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition assays, and an in vitro glucose uptake assay. Results: Polysaccharides from both species were pale yellow in color. Total carbohydrate content was 76.12% for ASP and 72.93% for ACP. FT-IR analysis indicated the presence of reducing sugars and pectic polysaccharides. ASP showed stronger DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 85.7 ± 1.06 μg/mL) than ACP (IC50 = 99.38 ± 1.39 μg/mL), though both were less potent than ascorbic acid. ASP also demonstrated greater α-amylase inhibition (IC50 = 61.57 ± 0.86 μg/mL) compared with ACP (IC50 = 72.82 ± 2.51 μg/mL). α-Glucosidase inhibition was similar between ASP (IC50 = 69.56 ± 1.31 μg/mL) and ACP (IC50 = 68.61 ± 2.09 μg/mL). Both extracts enhanced glucose utilization in a dose-dependent manner, with ASP showing the highest glucose stimulation at 758.3 μg/mL, significantly increasing glucose uptake relative to untreated controls. Conclusion: Polysaccharides from Allium species exhibit promising potential to be used in diabetes therapy. Further in vivo studies and clinical trials are required to confirm these findings.
