Acupuncture can improve absorption of baicalin from extracts of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi in rats

The aim of this research was to explore whether acupuncture could improve the absorption of baicalin from extracts of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi in normal rats. Twenty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided randomly into two groups. Group A was treated with a combination of oral administration of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extracts and acupuncture. Group B was treated only with oral administration of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extracts, in the same dosage as Group A. After treatment, the plasma concentration of baicalin was detected and pharmacokinetic analysis was conducted using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results showed that the plasma concentration of baicalin in Group A was significantly higher than in Group B, and that acupuncture at the acupoints Jizhong (Du6), Dazhui (Du14) and Zhongwan (Ren12) made the plasma concentration-time course of baicalin produce a bimodal phenomenon, increased the area under the curve (AUC) and slowed the elimination of baicalin, thus significantly improving the absorption of baicalin from extracts of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi in rats.