Korean J Psychopharmacol.  2007 Jan;18(1):5-17.

Korean Traditional Medicines as Novel Drugs for Neuropsychiatric Disorders

• Min SK
• Hong CH

Abstract

This paper reviews history of new drug development in Korea as well as researchs on development of new psychotherapeutic drug from traditional medicines or natural products in Korea. Korea has a long history of traditional medicine and accumulated knowledge of natural resources. However, only a few new drug have been developed from those natural products. Now many researchers in Korea are devoting themselves to test the possibility of natural products as antipsychotic drugs, antidepressants, anxiolytic drugs and cognitive enhancers. However, only a few graduates from traditional medical schools in Korea are engaging in research on developing new drug from natural products and they are not familiar to research methods of western medicine and pharmacology. For research and development of new drug from natural products or traditional medicines, many researchers should be trained for methodology of basic medicine, pharmacology, pharmacognosy, and oriential pharmacy. Government and pharmaceutical companies need to provide more investment for R & D for new drug from natural products including establishment of data base for component of traditional medicines and natural products, system development integrating information technology, bio-technology and nanotechnology, and international collaboration with advanced countries which have common interest in new drug development from natural products.

Keyword

Korean traditional medicine; New drug; Neuropsychiatric disorders

MeSH Terms

Antidepressive Agents
Antipsychotic Agents
Biological Products
Natural Resources
Cooperative Behavior
Investments
Korea
Medicine, Korean Traditional
Medicine, Traditional
Nanotechnology
Nootropic Agents
Pharmacognosy
Pharmacology
Pharmacy
Schools, Medical
Antidepressive Agents
Antipsychotic Agents
Biological Products
Nootropic Agents