Background: Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation impair stem cell survival and limit the therapeutic efficacy of regenerative medicine. This study evaluated the cytoprotective effects of a newly developed tartary buckwheat-lactoferrin formulation (TbLF) under H2O2-induced oxidative and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory stress conditions in vitro.Methods: TbLF was prepared using enzymatic hydrolysis, ball milling, and high-pressure homogenization. Cytotoxicity was assessed using a WST-8 assay in human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs), human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs), SH-SY5Y neuronal cells, and RAW264.7 macrophages. Cell viability was evaluated using neutral red uptake (NRU) assays following exposure to H2O2 or LPS.Results: TbLF showed no significant cytotoxicity at concentrations up to 5 mg/mL in any tested cell line. Pretreatment with TbLF significantly improved cell viability under H2O2-induced oxidative stress in hMSCs, hADSCs, SH-SY5Y, and RAW264.7 cells. TbLF also significantly attenuated LPS-induced inflammatory damage in RAW264.7 cells. Microscopic observations further demonstrated reduced morphological damage and increased cell density following TbLF treatment.Conclusions: TbLF pretreatment partially enhanced NRU in various cell types subjected to H2O2- and LPS-induced stress. These findings suggest that TbLF can partially support cell viability under stress conditions, indicating its potential for further research and use as an adjuvant therapeutic agent affecting stem cells.
Objectives: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Bazhen Decoction for chemotherapy-induced leukopenia, we analyzed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in which Palmul-tang (Bazhen Decoction) was administered to patients with chemotherapy-induced leukopenia.Methods: Nine databases were searched for RCTs published up to June 2026, with no language restrictions. Data synthesis was performed using RevMan Web, and methodological quality was assessed using the Risk of Bias 2 tool.Results: Fourteen RCTs were included. Bazhen Decoction significantly improved white blood cell counts, total effective rate, and immune function compared with controls. Combination therapy also reduced adverse events.Conclusions: Palmul-tang may improve chemotherapy-induced leukopenia and immune function, with potentially fewer adverse events when used in combination therapy. Nevertheless, the evidence is limited; large-scale RCTs are needed to confirm these findings.
Objectives: To report the clinical outcomes of integrative Korean medicine treatment in a patient recovering from coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and aortic valve replacement (AVR), focusing on postoperative symptoms, cardiac biomarkers, analgesic use, and glycemic control.Methods: A 69-year-old woman who underwent CABG and AVR was admitted for postoperative rehabilitation because of fatigue, chest discomfort, dyspnea, and general weakness. During hospitalization, she received integrative Korean medicine treatment consisting of herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion, and dry cupping in addition to conventional medical therapy. Clinical outcomes included the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for chest pain, the New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Classification, cardiac biomarkers including N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), troponin T, and creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), analgesic consumption, and insulin requirements.Results: The VAS score decreased from 5 to 2, and the NYHA Functional Classification improved from Class III to Class I during hospitalization. NT-proBNP decreased from 1,669 pg/mL to 204 pg/mL, troponin T decreased from 0.023 ng/mL to 0.016 ng/mL, and CK-MB decreased from 5.31 ng/mL to 1.84 ng/mL. Analgesic use was gradually reduced from scheduled three-times-daily dosing to pro re nata (PRN) use. Total insulin requirements also decreased during hospitalization, while glycemic control remained stable.Conclusions: Integrative Korean medicine treatment may be beneficial as an adjunctive therapy during postoperative recovery after CABG and AVR, with improvements in clinical symptoms and functional status and favorable changes in cardiac biomarkers, analgesic use, and insulin requirements. Because this single case involved concomitant conventional medical treatment, further well-designed clinical studies are needed to confirm its efficacy and safety.
Objectives: Cannabis seed is used for functional constipation, but residual seed coat may contain Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). This study evaluated serum cannabinoid exposure and safety after Maziren pill administration.Methods: This prospective pilot study enrolled 20 adults aged 19-65 years with Rome IV functional constipation. Participants received one standardized 3.2-g sachet of Maziren pills containing 840 mg cannabis seed. Serum THC and CBD were measured by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry before dosing and at 1, 2, and 3 hours. Aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine were assessed before dosing and 3 hours after dosing.Results: THC and CBD remained below detection limits at all time points. No clinically meaningful changes in liver or kidney function occurred; only blood urea nitrogen decreased significantly (p=0.02).Conclusion: A single dose resulted in no detectable serum THC or CBD within 3 hours, providing preliminary short-term safety data.
Objective: Levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID) is a common motor complication of long-term levodopa therapy in Parkinson's disease (PD), but conventional treatment options remain limited. This systematic review evaluated the efficacy and safety of herbal medicine combined with conventional treatment for LID.Methods: We searched 10 databases on July 30, 2026, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Meta-analysis was performed for the total effective rate (TER) and dyskinesia duration using a random-effects model; other outcomes were synthesized narratively because of scale heterogeneity.Results: Six RCTs (504 participants), all conducted in China, met the inclusion criteria. The herbal medicine plus conventional treatment group (treatment group) had a significantly higher TER (RR=1.35, 95% CI, 1.15-1.58; p=0.0003; I2=8%) and significantly shorter dyskinesia duration (MD=-0.96, 95% CI, -1.62 to -0.29; p=0.005) than the conventional treatment-alone group (control group). All six studies reported significant improvements in dyskinesia-specific outcomes (UPDRS IV, AIMS, TCM Symptom Score, UDysRS) in the treatment group. However, outcomes for overall motor function and quality of life varied across studies. Adverse event reporting was limited. The herbal formulas commonly included herbs that exert tonifying and liver-calming effects and target the liver, spleen, and kidney meridians.Conclusions: Herbal medicine combined with conventional treatment may contribute meaningfully to the management of LID in PD. However, given the heterogeneity (control-group compositions, diagnostic criteria, and outcome measures), short treatment durations, and low methodological quality of the included studies, these findings should be considered preliminary and warrant further validation through large-scale, standardized RCTs.
