Lipolytic and Lipophagic Effects of Pharmacopuncture on Localized Adiposity.

Localized adiposity is not only a common aesthetic issue but also a health risk factor. Pharmacopuncture can be a therapeutic option for the imbalance of regional fat distribution. The tuber of has been prescribed as antitussive and expectorant as a traditional Korean medicine. This study investigated the effects of pharmacopuncture with water extract (PT) on localized adiposity. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed on a high-fat diet (HFD) for 6 weeks. 100 L of 10 mg/mL of PT was injected into the left-side inguinal fat pad, while saline was injected into the right-side inguinal fat pad as self-control. Treatments were performed 3 times per week for 4 weeks. The inguinal fat weight was analyzed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. PT pharmacopuncture significantly decreased the weight of the inguinal fat pad. The adipocyte size was reduced with increases of lipolytic enzymes and lipophagy-related factors by PT pharmacopuncture. There was marked inhibition of lipid accumulation content in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by PT treatment. The expressions of adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), autophagy-related gene (ATG) 5, ATG7, and LC3 were markedly increased by PT treatments and . This study suggests that pharmacopuncture of has ameliorative effects on adiposity by lipid catabolic effects via activating both lipolysis and lipophagy in a localized region.