Pub Date : 2025-12-31DOI: 10.1016/j.imr.2025.101287
DeYu Tian , KeunOh Choi , Yong-ung Kim , YoungJoo Lee
Background
As one of the most famous ginseng products, red ginseng has had a huge market and influence in the healthcare market.
Methods
We recruited 3000 adults of all ages and social classes from different parts of Korea to conduct a questionnaire survey for statistical analysis and analyzed the results of the questionnaire survey through logistic regression. The questionnaire included information on the experience of red ginseng intake in a year, whether or not they consumed red ginseng on a regular basis, as well as information on income, age, and family composition that may affect red ginseng intake.
Results
The results showed that men and high-income groups had a higher acceptance of red ginseng; children number of the family has a non-linear effect on the probability of trying red ginseng; and groups who take other dietary supplements were also more willing to take red ginseng.
Conclusions
These results provide valuable information for understanding the demographic and behavioral characteristics of red ginseng consumers and highlight the need to consider integrated health strategies, as well as providing data to inform the development of red ginseng products and the direction of campaigns to promote red ginseng applications.
{"title":"Demographic and behavioral correlation of red ginseng consumption in Korea","authors":"DeYu Tian , KeunOh Choi , Yong-ung Kim , YoungJoo Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101287","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101287","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>As one of the most famous ginseng products, red ginseng has had a huge market and influence in the healthcare market.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We recruited 3000 adults of all ages and social classes from different parts of Korea to conduct a questionnaire survey for statistical analysis and analyzed the results of the questionnaire survey through logistic regression. The questionnaire included information on the experience of red ginseng intake in a year, whether or not they consumed red ginseng on a regular basis, as well as information on income, age, and family composition that may affect red ginseng intake.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The results showed that men and high-income groups had a higher acceptance of red ginseng; children number of the family has a non-linear effect on the probability of trying red ginseng; and groups who take other dietary supplements were also more willing to take red ginseng.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>These results provide valuable information for understanding the demographic and behavioral characteristics of red ginseng consumers and highlight the need to consider integrated health strategies, as well as providing data to inform the development of red ginseng products and the direction of campaigns to promote red ginseng applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"15 3","pages":"Article 101287"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145986700","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-31DOI: 10.1016/j.imr.2025.101288
Inhu Bae , Yu-jin Ji , Hyangsook Lee
This article provides an overview of spin in general and the current state of spin research in acupuncture studies. We introduce the definition and historical background of spin and provide an overview of its types with illustrative examples. Spin, reporting strategies that emphasise benefits or distract from non-significant results, may still be unfamiliar to many researchers, despite its critical impact on physicians and decision-makers by distorting interpretation and misrepresenting findings. We discuss not only the current state of spin research in the acupuncture field, but also specific types of spin commonly observed in acupuncture publications. Finally, we issue a call to action for researchers, journal editors, reviewers, and decision-makers to prevent spin in research articles. Reducing spin requires multifaceted efforts, including strict adherence to reporting guidelines, rigorous editorial and peer review processes, and increased awareness and training among researchers. By adopting a multidimensional approach, acupuncture researchers can become more alert to misleading reporting practices and ultimately improve the overall quality of reporting.
{"title":"Misleading readers without lies: understanding spin and its relevance to acupuncture research","authors":"Inhu Bae , Yu-jin Ji , Hyangsook Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101288","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101288","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This article provides an overview of spin in general and the current state of spin research in acupuncture studies. We introduce the definition and historical background of spin and provide an overview of its types with illustrative examples. Spin, reporting strategies that emphasise benefits or distract from non-significant results, may still be unfamiliar to many researchers, despite its critical impact on physicians and decision-makers by distorting interpretation and misrepresenting findings. We discuss not only the current state of spin research in the acupuncture field, but also specific types of spin commonly observed in acupuncture publications. Finally, we issue a call to action for researchers, journal editors, reviewers, and decision-makers to prevent spin in research articles. Reducing spin requires multifaceted efforts, including strict adherence to reporting guidelines, rigorous editorial and peer review processes, and increased awareness and training among researchers. By adopting a multidimensional approach, acupuncture researchers can become more alert to misleading reporting practices and ultimately improve the overall quality of reporting.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"15 2","pages":"Article 101288"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145972789","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-31DOI: 10.1016/j.imr.2025.101286
Ming-Chia Lee , Chih-Yuan Wu , Shih-Ming Chen , Ya-Hui Chang , Tzu-Rong Peng , Jin-Hua Chen , Shoko Satake , Jen-Ai Lee , Chih-Hsin Lee , Jann-Yuan Wang
Background
This study examined whether concurrent use of Chinese medications (CMs) and Western medications (WMs) was associated with a reduced risk of acute exacerbation (AE) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Methods
Using Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database (2003–2019), we identified patients aged ≥40 years with COPD receiving specific medications. CM users were matched with nonusers using propensity score matching. The primary outcome was the occurrence of moderate or severe AE within 730 days. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate AE risks.
Results
A total of 86,510 CM users were matched with 346,034 nonusers. The incidence of AE was lower in the CM users (9.7%) than in the nonusers (10.7%) as was the incidence of severe AE (2.78% vs. 3.79%). Kaplan–Meier analysis showed significantly lower risks of AE in the CM users (p < 0.001). In multivariate models, CM use was consistently associated with a reduced risk of AE (adjusted hazard ratios: 0.76 to 0.91). Subgroup analyses confirmed these benefits across all subgroups.
Conclusions
Concurrent CM–WM use is associated with a decreased risk of AE in patients with COPD. Integrating CM into conventional management may offer clinical benefits, though further studies are needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.
{"title":"Concurrent Chinese and Western medication use and risk of acute exacerbations in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A national cohort study","authors":"Ming-Chia Lee , Chih-Yuan Wu , Shih-Ming Chen , Ya-Hui Chang , Tzu-Rong Peng , Jin-Hua Chen , Shoko Satake , Jen-Ai Lee , Chih-Hsin Lee , Jann-Yuan Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101286","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101286","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>This study examined whether concurrent use of Chinese medications (CMs) and Western medications (WMs) was associated with a reduced risk of acute exacerbation (AE) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Using Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database (2003–2019), we identified patients aged ≥40 years with COPD receiving specific medications. CM users were matched with nonusers using propensity score matching. The primary outcome was the occurrence of moderate or severe AE within 730 days. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate AE risks.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 86,510 CM users were matched with 346,034 nonusers. The incidence of AE was lower in the CM users (9.7%) than in the nonusers (10.7%) as was the incidence of severe AE (2.78% vs. 3.79%). Kaplan–Meier analysis showed significantly lower risks of AE in the CM users (<em>p</em> < 0.001). In multivariate models, CM use was consistently associated with a reduced risk of AE (adjusted hazard ratios: 0.76 to 0.91). Subgroup analyses confirmed these benefits across all subgroups.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Concurrent CM–WM use is associated with a decreased risk of AE in patients with COPD. Integrating CM into conventional management may offer clinical benefits, though further studies are needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"15 2","pages":"Article 101286"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145972788","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-23DOI: 10.1016/j.imr.2025.101285
Yong-Suk Kim
{"title":"Unlicensed medical practice as a public health risk: Implications for Korean Medicine","authors":"Yong-Suk Kim","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101285","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101285","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"15 2","pages":"Article 101285"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145938812","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-22DOI: 10.1016/j.imr.2025.101284
Mengjiao Li , Chenyu Lu , Qiang Zhan
{"title":"Unmeasured corticosteroid burden may mask safety signals in herbal medicine users: A call for dosage adjustment","authors":"Mengjiao Li , Chenyu Lu , Qiang Zhan","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101284","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101284","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"15 2","pages":"Article 101284"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145938811","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-18DOI: 10.1016/j.imr.2025.101283
Arya Nielsen , Natalie L. Dyer , Kiran Faryar , Jeffery A. Dusek
Acupuncture has been used for millennia to treat pain and in recent decades included as an evidence-based strategy for comprehensive pain care. More recently, acupuncture has also been used to treat acute peri‑operative pain and acute pain in the Emergency department (ED). While there are models of acupuncture’s effect on chronic pain, the lack of application of those models for acute pain represents a gap in our scientific understanding.
Acupuncture in the ED is a single-session dose intervention. In the context of clarifying significant details of an acupuncture intervention including needle insertion, needle perturbation (to obtain de qi), and needle retention, point specificity, adequate dose using local and distal acupoints, and functional MRI (fMRI) brain studies of acupuncture treatment for pain, a body and auricular model of acupuncture’s specific effects in acute pain reduction is presented. The biomechanisms of body acupuncture are shown to be an interaction between local physiological responses at a needling site and peripheral and central analgesic responses. An auricular model conceptualizes how stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve also modulates autonomic and central nervous systems. Nonspecific effects of acupuncture are also discussed.
The purpose of this review is to illustrate the biomechanisms of acupuncture for acute pain as a complex intervention that integrates patterns of change at physiological and molecular levels that can inform existing and future effectiveness research and facilitate assimilation of acupuncture in the ED.
{"title":"Therapeutic mechanisms of acupuncture therapy for acute pain in the emergency department","authors":"Arya Nielsen , Natalie L. Dyer , Kiran Faryar , Jeffery A. Dusek","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101283","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101283","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Acupuncture has been used for millennia to treat pain and in recent decades included as an evidence-based strategy for comprehensive pain care. More recently, acupuncture has also been used to treat acute peri‑operative pain and acute pain in the Emergency department (ED). While there are models of acupuncture’s effect on chronic pain, the lack of application of those models for acute pain represents a gap in our scientific understanding.</div><div>Acupuncture in the ED is a single-session dose intervention. In the context of clarifying significant details of an acupuncture intervention including needle insertion, needle perturbation (to obtain de qi), and needle retention, point specificity, adequate dose using local and distal acupoints, and functional MRI (fMRI) brain studies of acupuncture treatment for pain, a body and auricular model of acupuncture’s specific effects in acute pain reduction is presented. The biomechanisms of body acupuncture are shown to be an interaction between local physiological responses at a needling site and peripheral and central analgesic responses. An auricular model conceptualizes how stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve also modulates autonomic and central nervous systems. Nonspecific effects of acupuncture are also discussed.</div><div>The purpose of this review is to illustrate the biomechanisms of acupuncture for acute pain as a complex intervention that integrates patterns of change at physiological and molecular levels that can inform existing and future effectiveness research and facilitate assimilation of acupuncture in the ED.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"15 2","pages":"Article 101283"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145972675","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-30DOI: 10.1016/j.imr.2025.101267
Sanghun Lee , Sunmi Choi
{"title":"Acupuncture electroceuticals: The convergence of traditional acupuncture theory and modern bioelectronic medicine","authors":"Sanghun Lee , Sunmi Choi","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101267","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101267","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"15 2","pages":"Article 101267"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145576166","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-13DOI: 10.1016/j.imr.2025.101265
Maria Benxia Wu , Yong-Kang Wu , Meng-Hua Chen , Benjamin Kimble , Brian May , Vincent Chan , Stella Stylianou , Bin Xu , Daniel Man-yuen Sze , Zhen Zheng
Background
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) tongue diagnosis entails the systematic evaluation of morphological characteristics (tongue features) on both dorsal and ventral tongue surfaces. Recent advancements in research have highlighted the potential diagnostic relevance of specific tongue features for cancer detection and monitoring through various inspection methodologies. This scoping review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of tongue features investigated in relation to cancer detection.
Methods
A literature search for clinical studies (excluding case reports) that examined the application of tongue inspection for detecting cancer, recurrence, or metastasis was conducted. Extracted data included study characteristics, patient populations, inspection techniques, and diagnostic outcomes.
Results
Twenty-four studies consisting of 14 case-control studies, 4 cross sectional studies, 5 observational study, and 1 prospective multicentred cohort were identified, involving a total of 5458 cancer patients and 7880 control participants. Documented tongue features included lingual flange protrusion, sublingual nodules, engorged sublingual veins, purple-bluish tongue, and variations in tongue coating thickness, etc. that were associated with different cancer types and metastasis. Using QUADAS-2, the overall quality was low with potentially high risk of bias in some key domains, especially participant selection and index test.
Conclusion
The findings from this review provide a foundation for future research questions aimed at high-level observational studies. Tongue inspection holds promise as a cost-effective, time-efficient, and non-invasive method for detecting cancers and metastasis. Based on quality assessment, the study highlights future needs such as more prospective, blinded interpretation, pre-specified thresholds, and transparent reporting to improve both methodological rigor and external validity.
{"title":"Exploring traditional Chinese medicine tongue diagnosis in potential cancer identification: A scoping review","authors":"Maria Benxia Wu , Yong-Kang Wu , Meng-Hua Chen , Benjamin Kimble , Brian May , Vincent Chan , Stella Stylianou , Bin Xu , Daniel Man-yuen Sze , Zhen Zheng","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101265","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101265","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) tongue diagnosis entails the systematic evaluation of morphological characteristics (tongue features) on both dorsal and ventral tongue surfaces. Recent advancements in research have highlighted the potential diagnostic relevance of specific tongue features for cancer detection and monitoring through various inspection methodologies. This scoping review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of tongue features investigated in relation to cancer detection.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A literature search for clinical studies (excluding case reports) that examined the application of tongue inspection for detecting cancer, recurrence, or metastasis was conducted. Extracted data included study characteristics, patient populations, inspection techniques, and diagnostic outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Twenty-four studies consisting of 14 case-control studies, 4 cross sectional studies, 5 observational study, and 1 prospective multicentred cohort were identified, involving a total of 5458 cancer patients and 7880 control participants. Documented tongue features included lingual flange protrusion, sublingual nodules, engorged sublingual veins, purple-bluish tongue, and variations in tongue coating thickness, etc. that were associated with different cancer types and metastasis. Using QUADAS-2, the overall quality was low with potentially high risk of bias in some key domains, especially participant selection and index test.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The findings from this review provide a foundation for future research questions aimed at high-level observational studies. Tongue inspection holds promise as a cost-effective, time-efficient, and non-invasive method for detecting cancers and metastasis. Based on quality assessment, the study highlights future needs such as more prospective, blinded interpretation, pre-specified thresholds, and transparent reporting to improve both methodological rigor and external validity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"15 2","pages":"Article 101265"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145972673","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-11DOI: 10.1016/j.imr.2025.101263
Lixia Yuan , Bofei Shu , Jieyi Zhou , Wenxi Li , Hui Wang , Xu Zhou
Background
Plant seeds constitute an important category of medicinal and edible herbs. However, assessments regarding their safety for human consumption remain insufficient. This systematic review comprehensively evaluates human safety for 21 medicinal and edible seeds.
Methods
Two independent reviewers screened the titles, abstracts, and fulltexts of the retrieved literature against the inclusion and exclusion criteria to identify eligible AE reports in both English (PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL) and Chinese (CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, SinoMed) databases. Search strategies were constructed using the scientific names, common names, and frequent aliases of the medicinal and edible seeds combined with safety evaluation keywords such as "adverse reaction," "toxicity," and "side effect." Any studies describing adverse event (AE) after human intake of specific seeds were included. AE characteristics were summarized. Causality between seed consumption and AEs was assessed.
Results
We identified 703 AEs involving eight medicinal and edible seeds. Ginkgo semen and Armeniacae semen amarum caused the most AEs, followed by Persicae semen, Myristicae semen, Sterculiae lychnophorae semen, Canavaliae semen, Cassiae semen, and Ziziphi spinosae semen. Among the AEs, 70.8% occurred in children, and 68.9% were associated with excessive intake. Most AEs manifested as gastrointestinal and/or neurological symptoms. Ninety-six were classified as serious; these were caused by Ginkgo semen (29 cases), Armeniacae semen amarum (60 cases), Persicae semen (4 cases), Canavaliae semen (2 cases), and Myristicae semen (1 case). These SAEs resulted in 15 fatalities and 3 cases of permanent functional impairment. Causality with seed consumption was determined to be "certain" for 239 AEs, "probable" for 449, and "possible" for 15. No AE reports were found for thirteen seeds.
Conclusion
Consuming specific medicinal and edible seeds, particularly Ginkgo semen, Armeniacae semen amarum, Persicae semen, Myristicae semen, and Canavaliae semen, poses potential risks, including fatal cases. Excessive dosages, consumption by children, and inappropriate processing were primary causes. Therefore, strengthening safety management for these is warranted.
{"title":"Safety of medicinal and edible herbs from seed sources for human consumption: A systematic review","authors":"Lixia Yuan , Bofei Shu , Jieyi Zhou , Wenxi Li , Hui Wang , Xu Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101263","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101263","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Plant seeds constitute an important category of medicinal and edible herbs. However, assessments regarding their safety for human consumption remain insufficient. This systematic review comprehensively evaluates human safety for 21 medicinal and edible seeds.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Two independent reviewers screened the titles, abstracts, and fulltexts of the retrieved literature against the inclusion and exclusion criteria to identify eligible AE reports in both English (PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL) and Chinese (CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, SinoMed) databases. Search strategies were constructed using the scientific names, common names, and frequent aliases of the medicinal and edible seeds combined with safety evaluation keywords such as \"adverse reaction,\" \"toxicity,\" and \"side effect.\" Any studies describing adverse event (AE) after human intake of specific seeds were included. AE characteristics were summarized. Causality between seed consumption and AEs was assessed.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>We identified 703 AEs involving eight medicinal and edible seeds. Ginkgo semen and Armeniacae semen amarum caused the most AEs, followed by Persicae semen, Myristicae semen, Sterculiae lychnophorae semen, Canavaliae semen, Cassiae semen, and Ziziphi spinosae semen. Among the AEs, 70.8% occurred in children, and 68.9% were associated with excessive intake. Most AEs manifested as gastrointestinal and/or neurological symptoms. Ninety-six were classified as serious; these were caused by Ginkgo semen (29 cases), Armeniacae semen amarum (60 cases), Persicae semen (4 cases), Canavaliae semen (2 cases), and Myristicae semen (1 case). These SAEs resulted in 15 fatalities and 3 cases of permanent functional impairment. Causality with seed consumption was determined to be \"certain\" for 239 AEs, \"probable\" for 449, and \"possible\" for 15. No AE reports were found for thirteen seeds.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Consuming specific medicinal and edible seeds, particularly Ginkgo semen, Armeniacae semen amarum, Persicae semen, Myristicae semen, and Canavaliae semen, poses potential risks, including fatal cases. Excessive dosages, consumption by children, and inappropriate processing were primary causes. Therefore, strengthening safety management for these is warranted.</div></div><div><h3>Protocol registration</h3><div>PROSPERO (No. CRD42023426497).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"15 2","pages":"Article 101263"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145525682","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-11DOI: 10.1016/j.imr.2025.101264
Sohee Moon , Yena Oh , Hajin Noh , Soo Dong Kim , Jae Youl Cho
Background
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which affects approximately 10 % of women of reproductive age worldwide, is closely associated with metabolic disturbances such as obesity and insulin resistance. Despite its high prevalence, the pathophysiology of PCOS is still not fully understood, underscoring the need for appropriate animal models and effective therapeutic strategies.
Methods
In this study, we established a PCOS mouse model through subcutaneous administration of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and investigated the therapeutic potential of a pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) hot water extract (Pg-hWE) (also called ESTROBAL®), administered orally.
Results
Histological analysis of ovarian tissue sections of mice showed that Pg-hWE improved ovulation function and suppressed cell death of follicles by promoting maintenance and regeneration of corpus luteum and reducing the number of atretic follicles. Furthermore, Pg-hWE showed inhibitory effects on gene and protein levels of apoptosis factors such as BAX, cleaved caspase-3, and cleaved caspase-9 in ovarian and uterine tissues. In addition, in ovarian tissues, it promoted apoptosis such as BAX and inhibited the expression of inflammation-related genes such as IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ, while increasing the expression of Bcl-2, an anti-apoptosis factor. Plus, Pg-hWE demonstrated the ability to modulate hormonal balance by regulating the expression of CYP11A1 and CYP17A1, key genes encoding enzymes involved in androgen biosynthesis. Supporting these findings, studies using CHO-K1 cells confirmed that Pg-hWE exerts both anti-apoptotic and antioxidant effects, thereby linking its roles in mitigating PCOS, suppressing cell death, and controlling oxidative stress.
Conclusion
Collectively, these results indicate that Pg-hWE ameliorates PCOS-related pathology by reducing oxidative stress, suppressing apoptosis, and supporting hormonal balance, highlighting its promise as a natural therapeutic candidate.
{"title":"Therapeutic effects of pomegranate hot-water extract via inhibition of apoptosis and oxidative stress in a DHEA-induced mouse model of PCOS","authors":"Sohee Moon , Yena Oh , Hajin Noh , Soo Dong Kim , Jae Youl Cho","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101264","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101264","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which affects approximately 10 % of women of reproductive age worldwide, is closely associated with metabolic disturbances such as obesity and insulin resistance. Despite its high prevalence, the pathophysiology of PCOS is still not fully understood, underscoring the need for appropriate animal models and effective therapeutic strategies.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In this study, we established a PCOS mouse model through subcutaneous administration of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and investigated the therapeutic potential of a pomegranate (<em>Punica granatum</em> L.) hot water extract (Pg-hWE) (also called ESTROBAL®), administered orally.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Histological analysis of ovarian tissue sections of mice showed that Pg-hWE improved ovulation function and suppressed cell death of follicles by promoting maintenance and regeneration of corpus luteum and reducing the number of atretic follicles. Furthermore, Pg-hWE showed inhibitory effects on gene and protein levels of apoptosis factors such as BAX, cleaved caspase-3, and cleaved caspase-9 in ovarian and uterine tissues. In addition, in ovarian tissues, it promoted apoptosis such as BAX and inhibited the expression of inflammation-related genes such as IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ, while increasing the expression of Bcl-2, an anti-apoptosis factor. Plus, Pg-hWE demonstrated the ability to modulate hormonal balance by regulating the expression of CYP11A1 and CYP17A1, key genes encoding enzymes involved in androgen biosynthesis. Supporting these findings, studies using CHO-K1 cells confirmed that Pg-hWE exerts both anti-apoptotic and antioxidant effects, thereby linking its roles in mitigating PCOS, suppressing cell death, and controlling oxidative stress.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Collectively, these results indicate that Pg-hWE ameliorates PCOS-related pathology by reducing oxidative stress, suppressing apoptosis, and supporting hormonal balance, highlighting its promise as a natural therapeutic candidate.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"15 2","pages":"Article 101264"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145576167","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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