Aqueous extract of ma huang suppresses neuropeptide Y expression in food-deprived rat hypothalamus.
Ma huang, the dried plant stem of ephedra intermedia Schrenk et C.A., contains an ephedrine-type alkaloid and has been used for weight loss. Neuropeptide Y (NPY), a 36-amino acid peptide, is concentrated in the hypothalamus and stimulates feeding desire. In this study, the effect of ma huang on the expressions of NPY in the hypothalamus of rats was investigated using immunohistochemistry. Food-deprivation enhanced the NPY expression in the hypothalamus. ma huang suppressed the food-deprivation-induced enhancement of NPY expression. Present results suggest that ma huang curbs the food desire by suppressing the NPY expression under food-deprivation conditions.
Kim
Ee-Hwa
EH
Department of Meridian and Acupoint, College of Oriental Medicine Semyung University, Jechon, Korea.
Shin
Mal-Soon
MS
Chang
Hyun-Kyung
HK
Lee
Taeck-Hyun
TH
Jang
Mi-Hyeon
MH
Shin
Min-Chul
MC
Lee
Sam-Jun
SJ
Kim
Chang Ju
CJ
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029790:Ephedra sinica; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal