The Effect of <i>Ephedrae Herba</i> Pharmacopuncture on Adipocyte Metabolism

Jeong, Jong-jin; Kim, Byoung-woo

The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine > Volume 29(1); 2008 > Article

Original Article

The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine 2008;29(1): 80-89.

麻黃藥鍼이 지방세포 대사에 미치는 영향

정종진, 김병우

상지대학교 부속한방병원 내과학교실

The Effect of Ephedrae Herba Pharmacopuncture on Adipocyte Metabolism

Jong-jin Jeong, Byoung-woo Kim

Department of Internal Medicine, Oriental Hospital of Sangji University

Correspondence

Jong-jin Jeong ,Tel: 033-741-9381, Fax: 033-741-9214, Email: drofmind@hanmail.net

Published online: March 30, 2008.

ABSTRACT

Objectives:
This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Ephedrae Herba pharmacopuncture (EHP) on the adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells, lipolysis in rat epididymal adipocytes and histological changes in porcine adipose tissue.

Methods :
Inhibition of preadipocyte differentiation and/or stimulation of lipolysis play important roles in reducing obesity. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were differentiated with adipogenic reagents by incubating for 3 days in the absence or presence of EHP ranging from 0.01 to 1.0 ㎎/㎖. The effect of EHP on adipogenesis was examined by measuring glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity and by oil red O staining. Mature adipocytes from rat epididymal fat pad were incubated with EHP ranging from 0.01 to 1.0 ㎎/㎖ for 3 days. The effect of EHP on lipolysis was examined by measuring free glycerol released. Fat tissue from porcine skin was injected with EHP ranging from 0.1 to 10.0 ㎎/㎖ to examine the effect of EHP on histological changes under light microscopy.

Results:
The following results were obtained from present study on adipogenesis of preadipocytes, lipolysis of adipocytes and histological changes in fat tissue. Proliferation of preadipocytes was significantly inhibited by EHP at the concentration of 1.0 ㎎/㎖. Lipolysis of adipocytes was increased by EHP at the concentration of 0.1, 1.0 ㎎/㎖. Porcine fat tissues were widely injured by EHP at the concentration of 10.0 ㎎/㎖.

Conclusions:
From the above results, EHP efficiently induces inhibition of preadipocytes proliferation, lipolysis of adipocytes and histologic injury in fat tissues. Therefore, EHP may be useful to treat localized obesity.

Key words: Ephedrae Herba Pharmacopuncture, Preadipocyte, Proliferation, Adipocyte, Lipolysis.