• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.1-13
• /
• 2016

Objectives The purpose of this study is to find out the effect of various concentrations of Hwangnyeonhaedok-tang (HTT) pharmacopuncture on ST25 (天樞) in rats with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis.Methods Colitis was experimentally induced by feeding rats with water mixed with 5% (w/v) DSS for 20 days. The rats were divided into 5 groups: the normal group (Nor, n=5), the control group - colitis induced rats with no treatment (Con, n=5), the acupuncture group - colitis induced rats with acupuncture applied on ST25 (Acu, n=5), the pharmacopuncture group 1 - colitis induced rats with 0.729 mg/250 g/40 μl of pharmacopuncture applied on ST25 (PA-1, n=5), the pharmacopuncture group 2 - colitis induced rats with 3.645 mg/250 g/40 μl of pharmacopuncture applied on ST25 (PA-2, n=5). The changes in weight, excrement concentration and hemafecia were observed 5 times every 2 days. The colon lengths were measured from appendix to the end of colon after the experiment. Hematological and serological exams were conducted the day after the last treatment by cardiac puncturing anesthetized rats.Results ST25 is the abdominal front point (募穴) of large intestine meridian and is known to have effect in colitis. Various concentrations of HTT pharmacopuncture (HTTP) applied on ST25, in rats with DSS-induced colitis inhibited decrease in colon lengths and body weight in both PA-1 and PA-2 groups. Hematological and serological exam results also showed that HTTP has significant effect on colitis in both PA-1 and PA-2 groups.Conclusions Colon lengths were significantly increased in the acupuncture group, PA-1 group and PA-2 group, compared to the control group. The body weight was significantly increased (p<0.05) in PA-2 group after the first treatment, compared to the control group. TNF-α, IL-6, AST were significantly decreased in PA-1 and PA-2 groups, compared to the control group.