Since the ethanol extract of Alisma orientale Juzepzuk (EEAO) suppresses lung inflammation by suppressing Nuclear Factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and activating Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-related Factor 2 (Nrf2), we set out to identify chemicals constituting EEAO that suppress lung inflammation. Here, we provide evidence that among the five most abundant chemical constituents identified by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), alismol is one of the candidate constituents that suppresses lung inflammation in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) mouse model and protects mice from ALI-like symptoms. Alismol did not induce cytotoxicity or reactive oxygen species (ROS). When administered to the lung of LPS-induced ALI mice (n = 5/group), alismol decreased the level of neutrophils and of the pro-inflammatory molecules, including Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α), Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1), Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), and Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), suggesting an anti-inflammatory activity of alismol. Consistent with these findings, alismol ameliorated the key features of the inflamed lung of ALI, such as high cellularity due to infiltrated inflammatory cells, the development of hyaline membrane structure, and capillary destruction. Unlike EEAO, alismol did not suppress NF-κB activity but rather activated Nrf2. Consequently, alismol induced the expression of prototypic genes regulated by Nrf2, including Heme Oxygenase-1 (HO-1), NAD(P)H: quinine oxidoreductase-1 (NQO-1), and glutamyl cysteine ligase catalytic units (GCLC). Alismol activating Nrf2 appears to be associated with a decrease in the ubiquitination of Nrf2, a key suppressive mechanism for Nrf2 activity. Together, our results suggest that alismol is a chemical constituent of EEAO that contributes at least in part to suppressing some of the key features of ALI by activating Nrf2.

Objective: The aim of this study was to find a correlation between the Nepean Dyspepsia Index (NDI) and electrogastrography (EGG) in clinical practice students. Methods: In total, 28 students were enrolled. NDI and EGG were measured in all students. NDI was classified as abnormal when the score was 11 or more. In EGG, standard 1 was classified as abnormal if the preprandial or postprandial percentage of normal gastric slow waves of Ch3 was less than 70% or if power ratio of Ch3 was less than 1. Standard 2 was classified as abnormal if standard 1 was met or if the percentage of normal gastric slow waves of Ch3 decreased after meals. Results: NDI and EGG had no statistically meaningful correlation when standard 1 was used, but NDI and EGG had statistically meaningful correlation when standard 2 was used. Conclusions: These findings suggest that NDI and EGG are correlated and that EGG can be used to evaluate the degree of dyspepsia.

Objectives: This study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Bojungikgi-tang for lung cancer patients with anorexia.Methods: This was a single-arm, open-label, and single-center trial, and suitable participants took Bojungikgi-tang (Buzhongyiqi-tang in Chinese, Hochuekki-to in Japanese) three times a day before or between meals for six weeks (42 days). After registration of clinical trials (visit 2), they visited the hospital every three weeks (visits 3 and 4) and measured or tested the effectiveness or safety evaluation variables to analyze the results. The primary outcome was the anorexia/cachexia subscale (A/CS) of functional assessment of anorexia/cachexia therapy (FAACT) score.Results: Seventeen lung cancer patients were included in the intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis. Lung cancer patients had higher A/CS of FAACT scores after six weeks of Bojungikgi-tang administration compared to that at the baseline. This was not significant four lung cancer (p=0.1668). In the secondary outcomes, the visual analog scale (VAS) score of anorexia decreased significantly (p=0.0009), and the CD4/CD8 ratio (p=0.0396) and CD4 levels (p=0.0345) significantly increased after six weeks of treatment. No serious adverse events were reported with Bojungikgi-tang in lung cancer patients.Conclusions: Bojungikgi-tang can be an effective and safe treatment for anorexia in lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Soyeon Kim. Korean J Acupunct 2023;40:55-61. https://doi.org/10.14406/acu.2023.012

Introduction: We present a case of multiple myeloma with amyloidosis, which has features of peripheral neuropathy after induction chemotherapy before autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation, in a 56-year-old woman with Korean medicine. Case Presentation: For 17 days of hospitalization, the patient with complaints of numbness and a tingling sensation in the hands and feet was treated with acupuncture, herbal medicine. To reduce the symptoms, we provided Korean medicine treatments, including herbal medicine, acupuncture, and moxibustion. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the results of the treatment. Until discharge, the VAS scores decreased for both hands and the foot tingling sensation. Conclusion: According to these results, Korean medicine treatment may be considered an effective treatment for tingling sensations in a patient with multiple myeloma with amyloidosis. Prospective studies are needed in the future to confirm and expand these findings.

Introduction: Functional dyspepsia (FD) has a global prevalence of approximately 15% and is characterized by chronic symptoms with an unclear etiology. Herbal medicines, owing to their multifaceted mechanisms, are promising therapeutic options for FD. This study aimed to establish medical evidence for the use of Sihogyeji-tang (SG), a herbal medicine, in the treatment of FD, thereby providing clinically relevant evidence for both patients and healthcare practitioners. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted on 24 June 2025, in the following databases—four English databases (CINAHL, EMBASE, Cochrane Database, and PubMed), five Korean databases (RISS, KISS, NDSL, DBPIA, and OASIS), one Japanese database (J-Stage), and three Chinese databases (CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP)—to identify eligible studies for this review. Randomized controlled trials investigating the use of SG for the treatment of FD were included. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and the results were synthesized with Review Manager 5.4. Results: Data from 12 randomized controlled trials involving 805 individuals were included in the meta-analysis. SG demonstrated a significantly higher total effective rate than prokinetic agents (risk ratio [RR]: 1.28, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.19–1.37, P < 0.00001). SG also resulted in a significantly greater reduction in symptom severity, as measured by the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptom total score, compared with the control group (standardized mean difference: −1.10, 95% CI: −1.53 to −0.68). The incidence of adverse events was significantly lower in the SG group than in the control group (RR: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.09–0.76, P < 0.05). The quality of evidence was rated as moderate for the total effective rate, very low for the TCM symptom score, and low for adverse events. Discussion: The findings suggest that SG may be more effective and safer than prokinetic agents for FD. However, the certainty of the evidence is limited by methodological weaknesses in the included studies. To validate these results and support the clinical adoption of SG in FD, robust and extensive randomized controlled trials are needed. Systematic review registration: [ https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/ ], identifier [CRD420251041781].