Jasaeng Korean Medicine Hospital "First Identification of Woohwangcheongsimwon's Stroke Prevention Effect"

Research Team of Senior Researcher Hong Jin-young at Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute
Confirms Neuroprotective and Regenerative Effects in Mouse Cerebral Cortex Neuron Study

Woohwang Cheongsimwon.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwanju] The research team led by Senior Researcher Hong Jinyeong at the Spine and Joint Research Institute of Jaseng Korean Medicine Hospital announced on the 29th that Woohwangcheongsimwon was confirmed to be effective in preventing stroke by inhibiting neuronal cell death and promoting the expression of various neuroregenerative factors.

Woohwangcheongsimwon is composed of a total of 21 types of herbal medicines, including bezoar, musk, and ginseng. It is widely used by the public for cerebrovascular diseases such as stroke or convulsions, as well as tension, headaches, and dizziness. Although various basic studies on the cardiovascular and central nervous systems effects of Woohwangcheongsimwon have been reported, there has been no scientific research proving its stroke prevention effect.

To evaluate the stroke prevention effect of Woohwangcheongsimwon, the research team treated cerebral cortex neurons of 17-day-old embryonic rats with three concentrations of Woohwangcheongsimwon (2, 10, 50 μg/mL). Then, each cell was cultured in glucose-free medium under hypoxic conditions to induce ischemic stroke caused by vascular blockage. After staining the neurons and analyzing the differences, it was found that the neuronal survival rate increased as the concentration of Woohwangcheongsimwon increased.

An antioxidant effect experiment was also conducted. Neural damage caused by stroke induces oxidative stress and inflammation that lead to cell death. Accordingly, the research team measured the expression level of iNOS (inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase), an enzyme synthesizing nitric oxide. The experiment showed that Woohwangcheongsimwon suppressed iNOS, thereby reducing the activity of oxidative agents and improving the oxidative stress environment.

Senior Researcher Hong Jin-young, Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute.

The research team also demonstrated that Woohwangcheongsimwon increases the expression levels of neuroregenerative factors that prevent stroke. After inducing stroke in cerebral cortex neurons treated with Woohwangcheongsimwon, the expression levels of NF200 (Neurofilament 200-kDa), one of the genes related to cell regeneration, and GAP-43 (Growth Associated Protein-43), a protein playing a key role in neuroregeneration, were significantly elevated.

Senior Researcher Hong said, “This experimental study is significant in that it objectively proved the excellent stroke prevention effect of Woohwangcheongsimwon, which has been used as a traditional Korean medicine prescription,” and added, “We will continue to research Korean medical treatments applying Woohwangcheongsimwon not only for stroke but also for various brain and cardiovascular diseases.”

The results of this study were published in the July issue of the SCI(E)-level international journal 'Antioxidants (IF=7.675)'.

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