Acupuncture may improve the absorption of baicalin from the extracts of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi in rats with pelvic inflammation.

The aim of the present study was to explore whether acupuncture may improve the absorption of baicalin from the extracts of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi in rats with pelvic inflammation. 24 female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into groups A (a combination of oral administration of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extracts and acupuncture), B (oral administration of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extracts), C (model group) and D (normal control group), with 6 rats in each group. After treatment, the plasma concentration of baicalin was determined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and Interleukin 6 (IL-6) were detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results showed that the plasma concentration of baicalin in group A was significantly higher than in group B, and the serum levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 in group A were significantly lower than in group B. This indicates that acupuncture at certain acupoints may significantly improve the curative effects of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi in rats with pelvic inflammation by enhancing the absorption of baicalin from the Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extracts.