Journal of Pharmacopuncture最新文献

{"title":"Comprehensive Chemical Profiling and Assessment of <i>In-Vitro</i> Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Activities of Polysaccharides Derived from <i>Allium cepa</i> and <i>Allium sativum</i>.","authors":"Himangshu Deka, Ananta Choudhury","doi":"10.3831/KPI.2026.29.2.162","DOIUrl":"10.3831/KPI.2026.29.2.162","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>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 <i>Allium sativum</i> (ASP) and <i>Allium cepa</i> (ACP).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>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 <i>in vitro</i> glucose uptake assay.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>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.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Polysaccharides from <i>Allium</i> species exhibit promising potential to be used in diabetes therapy. Further <i>in vivo</i> studies and clinical trials are required to confirm these findings.</p>","PeriodicalId":16769,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmacopuncture","volume":"29 2","pages":"162-173"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13303576/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148345751","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Herbal and Natural Product Interventions to Modulate Gut Microbiota in Acid Suppression-Associated Dysbiosis: a systematic review protocol.","authors":"Ji Hye Hwang, You-Kyung Choi","doi":"10.3831/KPI.2026.29.2.149","DOIUrl":"10.3831/KPI.2026.29.2.149","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Proton pump inhibitors are widely used to manage acid-related gastrointestinal disorders; however, prolonged use has been associated with gut dysbiosis, including reduced microbial diversity and the proliferation of opportunistic pathogens. Herbal medicines and natural products, characterized by multitarget effects, have been proposed as potential strategies for modulating the gut microbiota and restoring microbial homeostasis. This systematic review aims to evaluate the effects of these interventions on the gut microbiota in patients receiving acid suppression therapy.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This protocol is registered in the PROSPERO international prospective register of systematic reviews (CRD420261346672) and will be conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-P guidelines. A comprehensive literature search will be performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CENTRAL, and CNKI from database inception to March 2026. Randomized controlled trials and nonrandomized controlled clinical studies evaluating herbal or natural product interventions in adult patients receiving acid suppression therapy will be included. Two independent reviewers will perform study screening, data extraction, and risk-of-bias assessment using the RoB 2 and ROBINS-I tools. The overall certainty of the evidence will be evaluated using the GRADE approach.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Findings will be synthesized narratively, with a focus on taxonomic shifts (from the phylum to genus level) and diversity indices (alpha and beta diversity). Where sufficient data are available, a quantitative meta-analysis will be conducted using a random-effects model. Subgroup analyses will explore differences according to herbal intervention type (e.g., single extracts vs. multiherb formulations) and microbiome assessment methods.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This review will provide a structured overview of the microbiota-modulating effects of herbal and natural product interventions during acid suppression therapy. By bridging traditional medicine and modern microbiome science, the findings may help inform integrative therapeutic strategies and guide the design of future high-quality clinical trials.</p>","PeriodicalId":16769,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmacopuncture","volume":"29 2","pages":"149-154"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13303573/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148345720","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Racial Discrimination and Hwa-byung, a Korean Medicine-Based Anger Syndrome, among Foreign Residents in South Korea: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Chan-Young Kwon","doi":"10.3831/KPI.2026.29.2.212","DOIUrl":"10.3831/KPI.2026.29.2.212","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>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.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>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.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>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.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>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.</p>","PeriodicalId":16769,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmacopuncture","volume":"29 2","pages":"212-223"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13303344/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148345794","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antioxidant and Tyrosinase Inhibitory Potential of <i>Urtica urens</i>: a source for skin whitening agents.","authors":"Carla Marrassini, Laura Cogoi, María Rosario Alonso, Claudia Anesini","doi":"10.3831/KPI.2026.29.2.185","DOIUrl":"10.3831/KPI.2026.29.2.185","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>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, <i>Urtica urens</i> 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.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Here, 80% ethanolic extract of <i>U. urens</i> 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 <i>in vitro</i> sun protection factor was also determined.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>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 <i>in vitro</i> 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.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>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.</p>","PeriodicalId":16769,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmacopuncture","volume":"29 2","pages":"185-193"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13303475/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148345743","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"GC-MS-Based Quantification and Chemometric Discrimination of Multi-Marker Profiles in Carthami Flos-Based Pharmacopuncture Formulations.","authors":"Won-Young Cho, Hyundu Roh, Jiyeon Gong, Kyung Hoon Lee, Byung Soo Ahn, Daeyong Kim, Tae Han Yook, Gabsik Yang, Wonwoong Lee","doi":"10.3831/KPI.2026.29.2.194","DOIUrl":"10.3831/KPI.2026.29.2.194","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Pharmacopuncture is widely used in traditional Korean medicine, but its clinical reliability depends on chemical consistency and quality assessment. The present study aimed to establish a quantitative approach using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for simultaneously identifying and profiling key fatty acid marker compounds in Carthami Flos (CF) and Carthami Flos combined with deer antler (CFC) formulations. Whether this approach could be used in comparative quality evaluation was also evaluated.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The GC-MS method was used to quantify four fatty acids (palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid) in CF and CFC formulations. Analytes were identified based on retention times and characteristic electrospray ionization mass spectral fragment ions. The analysis was conducted in the selective ion monitoring (SIM) mode to enhance analytical selectivity and sensitivity, particularly for structurally similar fatty acids. Univariate analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) were performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>All four fatty acids were consistently detected and unambiguously identified in both CF and CFC formulations under the optimized GC-MS conditions. The SIM mode enabled the selective differentiation and accurate quantification of structurally similar fatty acids. Linoleic acid was the most abundant component in both formulations. Univariate analysis revealed a significant difference only in oleic acid content, but PCA discriminated CF and CFC samples, with the first two principal components explaining 97.56% of the total variance.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The GC-MS-based multi-marker profiling seems feasible for quantitative comparison and PCA-based discrimination of CF and CFC pharmacopuncture formulations.</p>","PeriodicalId":16769,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmacopuncture","volume":"29 2","pages":"194-201"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13303461/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148345789","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Use of Honey/Gotu Kola/κ-Carrageenan Base Hydrogel Film Dressing on Diabetic Foot Ulcer Patient in Home Care Setting: a case report.","authors":"Sari Meisyayati, Amirah Adlia, Aluicia Anita Artarini, I Ketut Adnyana","doi":"10.3831/KPI.2026.29.2.224","DOIUrl":"10.3831/KPI.2026.29.2.224","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>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.</p>","PeriodicalId":16769,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmacopuncture","volume":"29 2","pages":"224-232"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13303345/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148345738","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Efficacy of Acupuncture and Bee Venom Injections in Improving Hearing in a Patient with Idiopathic Conductive Hearing Loss: a case report.","authors":"Eun Kyung Lee, Min Hee Kim","doi":"10.3831/KPI.2026.29.2.233","DOIUrl":"10.3831/KPI.2026.29.2.233","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Conductive hearing loss (CHL) is commonly caused by tympanic membrane perforation or otitis media. Congenital ossicular anomalies and otosclerosis are the primary considerations in patients with normal tympanic membranes and external auditory canals, whereas stapedius tendon abnormalities are less frequently observed. Acupuncture and bee venom (BV) injections are frequently used for treating otological disorders; however, their effectiveness in treating CHL remains unexplored. Therefore, this case report describes a 22-year-old man with idiopathic left-sided CHL that persisted for 101 days. While computed tomography, otoscopic examination, and tympanometry did not yield significant results, pure-tone audiometry (PTA) showed elevated hearing thresholds consistent with CHL. This led to the suspicion of middle ear pathologies, including otosclerosis and stapedius tendon anomalies. The patient underwent acupuncture and BV injection therapy. The average PTA improved from 40 to 26 dB after 23 days of treatment, marking the first improvement in hearing thresholds since symptoms began. While causality cannot be established from a single case report, this temporal association suggests a potential therapeutic role of these interventions. This case suggests a potential therapeutic role of acupuncture and BV injections in patients with idiopathic CHL who have not undergone surgical diagnosis and treatment. Further investigation is warranted to determine the efficacy and mechanisms of these interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":16769,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmacopuncture","volume":"29 2","pages":"233-242"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13303465/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148345756","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Protocol for a Radial Pulse-Based Vascular Age Index Integrated with Traditional Korean Medicine Pulse Diagnosis.","authors":"Hyun-Joo Oh, Jun-Sang Yu","doi":"10.3831/KPI.2026.29.2.155","DOIUrl":"10.3831/KPI.2026.29.2.155","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Vascular aging, a central determinant of cardiovascular risk, is commonly assessed by pulse wave velocity (PWV)-based indices such as carotid-femoral PWV (cfPWV). However, these methods are not always feasible in routine or integrative clinical settings, requiring specialized equipment. Radial artery pulse wave analysis has emerged as a non-invasive alternative for estimating vascular age, while traditional Korean medicine (TKM) pulse diagnosis provides a qualitative assessment of vascular and systemic conditions. Despite the conceptual overlap, integration of modern vascular metrics with TKM pulse diagnosis remains limited. This study aims to develop and validate a radial pulse-based vascular age index (RP-VAI) and investigate its association with conventional vascular aging markers and TKM pulse characteristics.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A prospective observational study will be conducted, with all measurements performed in an examination room at a Korean medicine hospital. Radial pulse signals will be acquired bilaterally at the wrist, including traditional palpation sites (chon, gwan, and cheok). Signal processing will extract time-domain, morphological, and spectral features. A vascular age prediction model will be developed using multiple linear regression and machine learning. TKM pulse diagnosis will be independently assessed by trained practitioners. The associations between RP-VAI, PWV-based indices, and TKM pulse features will be analyzed.</p><p><strong>Expected outcomes: </strong>The study is expected to establish a novel integrative vascular aging index that bridges biomedical signal analysis and traditional pulse diagnosis, enabling a more comprehensive assessment of aging-related vascular changes.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study will establish and validate the RP-VAI, an integrative index, which may serve as an accessible tool for assessing vascular aging by bridging traditional pulse diagnosis with modern biomedical analysis.</p>","PeriodicalId":16769,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmacopuncture","volume":"29 2","pages":"155-161"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13303343/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148345760","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bridging Theory and Practice: a qualitative study on electronic charting and health systems science in Korean medicine education in alignment with KAS2022.","authors":"Won-Taek Lee, Bo-Min Kim, Ho-Yeon Choi, Seon-Kyoung Kim, Sang-Eun Park","doi":"10.3831/KPI.2026.29.1.97","DOIUrl":"10.3831/KPI.2026.29.1.97","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The digital transition in healthcare has underscored the importance of charting competence. However, medical record education remains fragmented and insufficient. With the introduction of competency-based assessments in KAS2022, there is an urgent need for structured training that integrates paper and electronic charts in Korean medicine education.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This qualitative study conducted focus group interviews with 19 students from a Korean medicine university. Participants were tasked with documenting standardized cases using both a paper chart and an electronic chart (Doodol-Chart). They then engaged in group interviews according to academic year to explore their experiences, challenges, and perceptions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Students primarily learned charting through informal channels, leading to difficulties in structured history-taking and the use of professional terminology. Paper charts were valued for their flexibility but hindered systematic record management. Conversely, electronic charts facilitated faster data entry and organized storage but limited free-text flexibility. Students emphasized the need for early foundational training, a standardized curriculum, and clinically integrated practice. Electronic chart education was also noted to reinforce Health Systems Science (HSS). Despite the benefits of electronic charting, our focus group interviews revealed challenges related to informal training and restricted flexibility, underscoring the complementary insights of qualitative inquiry.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Structured charting education is essential in Korean medicine. Integrating electronic charting within the HSS framework underscores the need for comprehensive strategies that enhance clinical reasoning and collaboration. Specifically, developing electronic medical record-integrated assessment tools is crucial for bridging the gap between theory and practice, ensuring the professional identity and sustainability of future Korean medicine practitioners.</p>","PeriodicalId":16769,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmacopuncture","volume":"29 1","pages":"97-105"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13054852/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147639084","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Herbal and Natural Product Interventions in Animal Models of Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea and Their Effects on Gut Microbiota: a protocol for systematic review.","authors":"Ji Hye Hwang, You-Kyung Choi","doi":"10.3831/KPI.2026.29.1.42","DOIUrl":"10.3831/KPI.2026.29.1.42","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) is a frequent complication of antibiotic use and is commonly used to investigate gut microbiota dysbiosis and potential therapeutic interventions in animals. Herbal medicines and natural product-derived compounds have shown promising effects in restoring microbial balance; however, no systematic review has yet synthesized the preclinical evidence. Therefore, this review aimed to systematically identify, evaluate, and synthesize animal studies examining herbal and natural product interventions for AAD, with a particular focus on gut microbiota restoration and related functional outcomes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This protocol has been registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251136553). A systematic search was performed in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, CNKI, and other major Korean medical databases from inception to the search date. Controlled preclinical studies that evaluated herbal or natural product interventions for AAD in animal models and reported gut microbiota outcomes were also included. Two reviewers independently screened the studies, extracted the data, and assessed the risk of bias.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. The findings were synthesized narratively and, where appropriate, organized by intervention type, animal model, and microbiome analytic method.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This review systematically evaluates the effects of herbal and natural products on the gut microbiota in animal models of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. These findings provide foundational preclinical evidence to support microbiome-directed development of herbal, polysaccharide-based, and synbiotic interventions for antibiotic-associated dysbiosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":16769,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmacopuncture","volume":"29 1","pages":"42-47"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13054867/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147639134","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}