A Retrospective Herb-Drug Interaction Study of <italic>Oryeong-san</italic> (Wuling-san) Co-administration in Type 2 Diabetes Patients Receiving Hypoglycemic Treatment

Objectives: This study investigated the effects of Korean medicine <i>Oryeong-san</i> (五苓散) on blood glucose levels and evaluated its safety in patients with type 2 diabetes.Methods: A total of 87 patients aged 19 years and older, hospitalized for at least three days at the Kyung Hee University Korean Medical Hospital from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2023 and continuously consumed <i>Oryeong-san</i> for a minimum of three days, were included. Their clinical characteristics and laboratory tests were reviewed retrospectively. The effects of <i>Oryeong-san</i> on fasting (FBS) and 2-hour postprandial (PP2) blood glucose were assessed by comparing the averages of measurements taken before and after the treatment. To evaluate the safety of the herbal extract, liver function test and kidney function test results were compared, including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).Results: The average duration of <i>Oryeong-san</i> consumption was 17.71±26.82 days. Although the FBS decreased and the PP2 slightly increased, these changes were not statistically significant (p>0.05). Safety assessments showed that the average levels of AST decreased, while the level of ALT increased, without statistical significance. The BUN levels also significantly decreased, while Cr and eGFR levels remained stable.Conclusion: This study indicates that <i>Oryeong-san</i> is safe for use in type 2 diabetes patients without significant impact on blood glucose and that it has a positive safety profile.