[Kok! Health] "Mu Seeds Effective for Treating Degenerative Lumbar Disc Disease"

Researcher Kim Hyun-seong (left) and Researcher Yeo Chang-hwan from Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute. [Image source=Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine]

A study has found that 'Naebokja (萊?子)', the seed of the radish and a traditional herbal medicine, is effective in treating degenerative lumbar disc disease (lumbar intervertebral disc herniation).

The Spine and Joint Research Institute at Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine announced on the 1st that a research paper by researchers Kim Hyun-sung and Yeo Chang-hwan on the protection of Naebokja nucleus pulposus cells was published in the SCI(E)-level international journal Biology (IF=3.6).

The discs in the lower back act as cushions to prevent collisions between vertebrae. They consist of the annulus fibrosus and the nucleus pulposus, with over 80% of the nucleus pulposus composed of water. However, damage caused by external impacts such as traffic accidents, poor posture, or aging can cause the internal nucleus pulposus to leak out, leading to inflammation and pain. In particular, in degenerative discs, the nucleus pulposus decreases due to aging and weight gain, but Naebokja extract showed effects in protecting nucleus pulposus cells and inhibiting degeneration.

The research team administered Naebokja extract to disc nucleus pulposus cells at concentrations of 25, 100, and 400 μg/mL, and induced damage to the nucleus pulposus cells by treating each group with 400 μM hydrogen peroxide. As a result, Naebokja extract inhibited cell death and increased cell viability. The higher the concentration of Naebokja extract, the more activated the cells became, and the survival rate approximately doubled.

Dried radish seeds used as herbal medicine, 'Naebokja'. [Image source: Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine]

In the control group where Naebokja extract was not administered to nucleus pulposus cells, TREM2 (Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells 2) expression increased about 3.5 times after hydrogen peroxide treatment, but in the Naebokja-treated groups, the related levels decreased to normal depending on the extract concentration. TREM2 is a protein that accelerates degeneration of nucleus pulposus cells and is expressed at higher levels in the nucleus pulposus tissue of patients with degenerative discs.

Naebokja extract also significantly reduced the levels of genes involved in disc nucleus pulposus degeneration, such as ADAMTS-4, ADAMTS-5, MMP3, and MMP13. These increased up to nearly fourfold after hydrogen peroxide treatment but decreased to less than half with Naebokja extract administration. Additionally, it increased extracellular matrix components such as aggrecan and collagen, which contribute to the stabilization of nucleus pulposus cells.

Researcher Kim Hyun-sung of the Spine and Joint Research Institute at Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine said, "Through this study, we were able to confirm the potential of traditional herbal medicine in treating degenerative disc disease," adding, "We will continue to analyze the components of various herbal medicines and study their therapeutic effects to lead the scientific advancement of Korean medicine."