Abstraction Effect of Placenta Extract on the Treatment of Degenerative Spinal Diseases

Aug 12, 2025

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A study found that epidural acupuncture treatment using placental extracts is effective in improving nerve damage and inflammation and pain caused by spinal stenosis.

The Spinal Joint Research Institute (Director Ha In-hyuk) of Jaseng Oriental Hospital announced on the 12th that it published the results of the study in the SCI(E)-level international academic journal 『JOR Spine (IF=3.4)』.

Spinal canal stenosis is a disease that causes back pain, lower extremity radiation, leg sensation and muscle weakness due to narrowing of the spinal canal due to spinal degeneration, causing back pain, lower extremity radiation, and decreased muscle strength. In particular, as the elderly population increases, there is a growing need for safe non-surgical treatments as there is a risk of surgical burden and complications as well as interest in spinal stenosis.

In oriental medicine, spinal stenosis is treated with an integrated treatment of oriental medicine consisting of acupuncture, herbal acupuncture, Chuna therapy, and herbal medicine prescription. Among them, herbal acupuncture is a treatment that injects active ingredients of herbal medicine into the body, which combines the efficacy of herbal medicine and the effect of acupuncture treatment. In particular, epidural acupuncture treatment, which injects acupuncture between the dura mater surrounding the spinal nerve and the vertebrae, can maximize the treatment effect by focusing on inflammation and pain around the nerve.

In this study, we analyzed the treatment effect of 紫車 (placenta extract) herbal acupuncture, which is used as one of the medicinal acupuncture points.

Zahager is a physiologically active substance complex (HPE) extracted from the human placenta, and is rich in antioxidants and cell regeneration factors, so it has excellent efficacy in tissue recovery and immune control. In oriental medicine, it has been used for the purpose of bosing (補腎) and complementary blood (補血) since ancient times, and in modern times, it is being used and studied in various fields such as regenerative medicine and skin beauty.

In response, Dr. Hong Jin-young's research team first conducted a cell-level experiment of self-destructive acupuncture. After causing damage to pain-related sensory neurons, posterior muscle ganglion (DRG) neurons due to oxidative stress, the research team administered the acupuncture needle at concentrations of 2.5mg/mL and 5mg/mL. As a result of the experiment, the survival rate of neurons increased significantly, axon (nerve fiber) protrusions grew, and the expression of pain-related proteins TRPV1, CGRP, and IB4 was suppressed, confirming the pain effect of self-help.

Subsequently, in animal experiments, experimental mice that induced spinal canal stenosis were administered to the epidural space 5 times a week for 4 weeks at concentrations of 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg. As a result, the expression of M1 type macrophage-related factors (iNOS, TNF-α, and COX-2) that induce inflammatory responses was greatly inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, M2 type macrophage factors (ARG1, CD206), which induce anti-inflammatory action, were more than twice activated and had an anti-inflammatory effect.

In animal experiments, pain-related proteins (CGRPs) were recovered in a concentration-dependent manner in the posterior muscle ganglion (DRG) tissue depending on the dose of self-administered acupuncture.

In addition, the expression of increased pain-related genes (Il1rn, Sn9a, CGRP, IB4, etc.) due to spinal stenosis was shown to be inhibited up to twice or more depending on the concentration of acupuncture. In damaged spinal cord tissue, the expression of genes (Bdnf, Ngf) involved in nerve regeneration and axon (nerve fiber) germination was significantly increased. In particular, it was confirmed that BDNF increased about 6 times, NGF increased more than 3 times, and nerve recovery damaged by spinal stenosis was promoted.

In addition, positive results were also derived from functional recovery and safety evaluation. In the evaluation of motor function based on gait analysis, the self-substituted acupuncture group had a clear recovery rate compared to the non-administered group, and the pain sensitivity to external stimuli was also significantly reduced. In particular, safety was also confirmed as no adverse reactions to weight changes and liver levels were observed despite repeated epidural self-sufficiency or drug administration.

Dr. Hong Jin-young of the Spinal Joint Research Institute of Jaseng Oriental Medicine Hospital said, `Unlike steroid-based injection treatment, herbal acupuncture has less risk of side effects and has fundamental potential for treatment such as nerve regeneration and inflammation suppression"We look forward to further expanded research in the future to be used in clinical practice" he said.