Abstract
Objectives : This research was performed to investigate the effects of Fructus Hordei Germiniatus-herbal acupuncture(HA; herbal acupuncture) at acupoint Jung-wan($CV_{12}$) on weight gain, food consumption, food efficiency, serum of lipid concentrations and liver function of rats fed high fat diet for 7weeks. Methods : Experimental groups were divided into high fat diet group(Control), high fat diet and saline injection at acupoint $CV_{12}$ treated group(Saline), high fat diet and Fructus Hordei Germiniatus-HA at acupoint $CV_{12}$ treated groups. According to HA concentration, HA groups were classified into 4 groups ; HA-1($0.108mg/g/m{\ell}$), HA-2($0.054mg/g/m{\ell}$), HA-3($0.022mg/g/m{\ell}$), HA-4($0.011mg/g/m{\ell}$). HA was treated at $20{\mu}{\ell}$ per 4days, total 12times in 49days. Results : 1. Body weight per week was significantly decreased in HA-1, HA-2, HA-3 and HA-4 And body weight per day was significantly decreased in HA-3. 2. Food consumption per week was significantly decreased in HA-1, HA-2, HA-3 and HA-4. 3. Food efficiency per week was significantly decreased in HA-2, HA-3 and HA-4 And food efficiency per day was significantly decreased in HA-3. 4. The level of serum total cholesterol was significantly decreased in HA-1 and HA-3 And the level of serum HDL-cholesterol was significantly decreased in HA-1. 5. The level of serum triglyceride was significantly decreased in HA-1, HA-2, HA-3 and HA-4. And the level of serum total bilirubin was significantly decreased in HA-1and HA-2. 6. The level of serum AST was significantly decreased in HA-2 and HA-3 And the level of serum ALT, r-GTP were significantly decreased in HA-2. Conclusions : According to the above results, Fructus Hordei Germiniatus-HA at acupoint $CV_{12}$ can control body weight, food consumption, food efficiency, serum lipid concentrations and liver function. Asthe same time this kind of Fructus Hordei Germiniatus-HA does not seem to be injurious on liver function. To use Fructus Hordei Germiniatus-HA for obesity, further studies about their underlying mechanism may be needed.