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A research paper about Kwangdong Pharmaceutical's drug, Kyung-Ok-Ko (KOK), that prevents pulmonary damage from fine dust inhalation has been published in the International Journal of Environmental Health Research, the company said Tuesday.
KOK is a traditional herbal medicine that has long been used in Oriental medicine as a tonic for age-related diseases.
In the study, researchers investigated the beneficial effect of KOK on fine particular matter-induced lung endothelial cell (EC) barrier disruption and pulmonary inflammation through tests on mice, according to the company.
The researchers induced lung injury in the mice with particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers, or PM2.5. Divided into two groups, one was given KOK and the other group was not.
While the mice had abnormally high levels of vasopermeability after being exposed to PM2.5, the levels of the group given KOK became significantly lower. The levels of their reactive oxygen species in the endotheliocyte of the lung also decreased 58 percent compared with the group that did not have KOK.
"This test proves scientifically that KOK helps reduce vascular protein leakage and leukocyte infiltration, and protect respiratory system," said leader of the study, professor Bae Jong-sup of Kyungpook National University's College of Pharmacy.
