Effect of herbal formula tonics for reinforcement of yin or yang deficiency on the inhibition of whole blood aggregation

Herbal formula tonics for reinforcement of yin or yang deficiency are commonly used in Korea traditional medicine [1, 2]. This study examined the possible inhibitory effects of 30 kinds of these herbal formula tonics on platelet aggregation induced by collagen in human whole blood using the impedance method of aggregometry [3]. Among them, 4 kinds of yin-tonic and 3 kinds of yin-yang-tonic water extracts were selected to be the most effective candidates (p<0.001). Also, through in vivo study, the anti-thrombotic effects of Igyeongtang-, Gamisipjeondaebotang-, and Gamisoyosan-treated groups, with recovery rate of 60%, 50%, 45.45%, respectively, were observed to be higher than the control group (36.8%) in a mouse acute thrombosis. The results from this experiment provide pharmacological evidence for the traditional use of tonics with yin-yang theory of traditional medicine, suggesting that yin-tonics could be used to help problems of blood circulation more than yang-tonics.

Acknowledgements: This study supported in part by the Inter-Institutional Collaboration Research Program under the Korea Research Council for Industrial Science & Technology (KOCI), Korea.

References: 1. Liu, Y., Dong, L. (2002), Basic Theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2nd ed., Academy Press, Beijing. 2. Heo, J. (1610), translated by Yoon, S. H. et al. (2005), Donguibogam. Donguibogam Press. Hadong. Korea. 3. Armida, P. T. et al. (1995) Thromb Res 78: 107–115.