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The raw materials of Korean herbal medicines come from crop cultivation. From cultivation to processing, various factors influence the quality of Korean herbal medicines in this long process. These factors need to be minimized for obtaining high quality of Korean herbal medicines. In South Korea, there are a variety of regulations and guidelines for Korean herbal medicines. However, there are no single independent protocols throughout the entire process from cultivation to processing of Korean herbal medicines, so there can be a policy mix-up. In this study, four regulations and guidelines for Korean herbal medicines, which are GAP (Good Agricultural Practices), GACP (Good Agricultural and Collection Practices), hGMP (herbal Good Manufacturing Practices) and Standard Operation Procedure for herbal medicines were investigated. This study will be a good source for further future studies on the guidelines of Korean herbal medicines.

Saengmaek-san (SMS) comprises three herbal medicines Liriopis seu Ophiopogonis Tuber, Ginseng Radix, and Schisandrae Fructus. SMS has been traditionally used for the treatment of ischemic disease in Asia. In this study, an analytical method using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and a photodiode array detector (PDA) (HPLC PDA) was used for the quantitative analysis – of schizandrin and gomisin A in SMS, a traditional herbal formula. Chromatographic separation of the two compounds was carried out using a Gemini C18 column and two mobile phases, distilled water and acetonitrile, with gradient elution. The coefficient of determination of the calibration curve for the quantitative analysis of the marker components of Schisandrae Fructus in an SMS sample, schizandrin and gomisin A, was 1.0000. The limit of detection of the marker components was 3.28 mg/mL and 3.19 mg/mL, and the limit of quantification was 9.93 mg/mL and 9.67 mg/mL. Recovery and intra- and interday precisions were 95.44-103.58% and <1.5%, respectively. The quantities of schizandrin and gomisin A were 0.244 and 0.028 mg/freeze-dried g, respectively. The optimized HPLC–PDA method could be expected to provide basic data for the quality control of SMS and other related herbal formulas.

The medicinal use of the plants belonging to the genus Curcuma has been controversial because of the complexity of original plants, although it has been shown that the tuberous roots should be used as Ul-geum ( ), while the rhizomes should be used as Gang-鬱金hwang (薑黃) and A-chul (莪朮). This study aimed to review medicinal uses of the roots and rhizomes of genus Curcuma by comparing herbological bibliographies and empirical investigation. Results obtained from the literature review indicate the origin of Ul-geum, Gang-hwang, and A-chul as follows: 1) the tuberous roots from On-ul-geum (溫鬱金) C. aromatica, Gang-hwang (薑黃) C. longa, A-chul (莪朮) C. phaeocaulis, and Gwang-seo-a-chul (廣西莪朮) C. kwangsiensis were used as 溫鬱金 (白絲鬱金, 黑鬱金), 黃絲鬱金, 綠絲鬱金, and 桂鬱金, respectively; 2) the rhizomes of Gang-hwang C. longa and On-ul-geum C. aromatica were used as 薑黃 and 片薑黃, respectively (only in China); 3) the rhizomes of A-chul C. phaeocaulis, On-ul-geum C. aromatica, and Gwang-seo-a-chul C. kwangsiensis were used as 蓬莪朮, 溫莪朮, and 廣西莪朮, respectively. For therapeutic purposes, Ul-geum improves qi depression (行氣解 鬱), Gang-hwang unblocks the meridians and relieves pain (通經止痛), and A-chul removes accumulation and relieves pain (消積止痛). Morphologically, the cortex and central cylinder were separated between the endodermis on the transverse-section surface of the tuberous roots of Ul-geum compared to the rhizomes of Gang-hwang and A-chul with yellow color, and gray or dark brown color on the transverse surfaces. The results of the present study provide the fundamental criteria of the medicinal use of Ul-geum, Gang-hwang, and A-chul, which should be supported by further studies, including determination of the type of specimens and genetic and chemical analyses.

From the Botanical Garden of the Faculty of Science, Charles University and Prague Botanical Garden in Czech Republic, 175 plants were examined by photographing. 157 species in 44 families of plants were investigated in the Botanical Garden of Charles University, Among this botanical garden, the most dominant family was Compositae with 31 species, followed by Lamiaceae with 25 species, Apiaceae with 13 species, Solanaceae with 9 species, and Leguminosae with 7 species. Ferula assa-foetida L., Ammi visnaga (L.) Lam., Trigonella foenum-graecum L., Tussilago farfara L., and Levisticum officinale W.D.J.Koch are important medicinal plants grown in the Botanical Garden of Charles University. From the greenhouses of Prague Botanical Garden, 18 species in 12 families of plants were classified. Commiphora simplicifolia Schweinf. is an important plant in this botanical garden.

The pharmacopeias of South Korea consist of the Korean Pharmacopoeia Eleventh Edition (KP 11) and the Korean Herbal Pharmacopoeia (KHP). And North Korea’s is the Pharmacopoeia of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DKP). It is necessary to know the current regulations of both sides to prepare for future inter-Korean exchanges. So the general notices of DKP to KP/KHP were compared. Most of the contents were similar except for some differences in expression. But, there was a difference in some of the articles. The collection time, primary processing, indication, and dosage are essential to the monographs only in DKP. And the size of powder form, drying condition, foreign material standard value, and labeling regulations was different on both sides. It is necessary to understand and respond to these differences so that they do not act as obstacles in inter-Korean exchanges in the future.

In order to exactly identify the distribution status of herbal medical plants on Jeju Island, we are conducting a distribution survey on the Island, focusing on specific plants listed in the KP and KHP rather than a study of local flora. In this study, we first report on three species that we believe need to be reconsidered in their distribution and taxonomic characteristics. Magnolia kobus is found to be more distributed in surrounding Oreum than Mt. Halla. The scientific name “Astragalus membranaceus” listed in the KP and KHP should be corrected to “Astragalus mongholicus”. In Jeju Island, Pulsatilla koreana is not distributed, and all of their individuals are P. cernua. Our study is expected to be used as an important source of data to understand the distribution of herbal medical plants on the Korean Peninsula to prepare potential preparedness for Nagoya Protocol requirements.

Scanning electron microscope/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) is a rapid, non-destructive, and multi-elemental analytical technique used for the elemental analysis and chemical characterization of the selected surface of the sample. In this study, the elemental concentration ratios of four cicada's exuviae including Cicadidae Periostracum [Cryptotympana atrata (Fabricius, 1775), Hyalessa maculaticollis (Motschulsky, 1866), Meimuna opalifera (Walker, 1850), and Platypleura kaempferi (Fabricius, 1794)] were analyzed using SEM/EDX for the first time. C, O, Cl, and K were found in all studied species. However, S and Mg were only found in H. maculaticollis and P. kaempferi, respectively. The results imply that this SEM/EDX technique could be used and applied as a crucial potential tool, analyze both microstructure and element, and manage the quality of the distributed medicinal medicines.

Recently, the industry using insects is in the spotlight, and the study of components and harmful heavy metals are required. The Korean pharmacopoeia contains 52 animal-based medicines, among which insect-originated medicines are listed at the highest rate. This study was carried out to detect the 30 inorganic elements, including four heavy metal in insect-originated medicines in Korea using an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) and a mercury analyzer. Potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and sulfur are large amounts of inorganic elements that consist of the organism, and these components were detected in the highest contents in these samples. In addition, the contents of four heavy metals including lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury were analyzed. The contents of lead and cadmium in Cicadidae Periostracum were found as 7.5 and 0.348 mg/kg, respectively.

There are two types of Hangin (杏仁): Cheom-Hangin (甛杏仁) and Go-Hangin (苦杏仁). However, it was not previously known which species of the apricot kernel they belonged to. This study aimed to review medicinal uses of various Hangin by comparing herbological bibliographies and morphological investigations. Results obtained revealed: 1) From the last period of the Ming Dynasty to the period of the Qing Dynasty, Cheom-Hangin (甛杏仁) was presumed to be Padan-Hangin (巴旦杏仁, Pruni Dulcis Semen). 2) Although Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China presented Nam-Hangin (南杏仁, Pruni Armenicae Semen) as Go-Hangin (苦杏仁), Nam-Hangin (南杏仁) was still marketed as Cheom-Hangin (甛杏仁). 3) Ya-Hangin (野杏仁, Pruni Ansus Semen), Dongbuk-Hangin (東北杏仁, Pruni Mandshuricae Semen), San-Hangin (山杏仁, Pruni Sibiricae Semen) and Nam-Hangin (南杏仁) were used to treat the relative excess syndrome, and Padan-Hangin (巴旦杏仁) to treat relative deficiency syndrome of the Lung. 4) Unlike other samples, Ya-Hangin (野杏仁) and San-Hangin (山杏仁) were indistinguishable from each other in shape. The results of this study highlight the medicinal uses of two types of Hangin (杏仁). These results should be supported by further studies such as genetic analysis.

Erratum to: Kang Dajung et al. Development of herbal medicine plants for control technology using Metschnikowia persimmonesis (KIOM G15050 strain) KCTC 12991BP. Korean Herb. Med. Inf. 2018;6(1):51-64. doi:10.22674/KHMI-6-1-5