Auricular acupressure may improve absorption of flavanones in the extracts from Citrus aurantium L. in the human body.

OBJECTIVE To explore whether auricular acupressure could improve the absorption of flavanones in the extracts from Citrus aurantium L. in the human body. METHODS Ten (10) healthy male volunteers were randomly divided into two groups. Group A was treated with the combination of oral administration of C. aurantium L. extracts and auricular acupressure. Group B was treated only with the oral administration of C. aurantium L. extracts in the same dosage as Group A. After 7 days of treatment, the plasma concentration of naringenin and hesperetin of the two groups were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS The plasma concentration of naringenin and hesperetin in Group A were significantly higher than Group B. CONCLUSIONS Auricular acupressure at some specific acupoints can significantly improve the absorption of naringenin and hesperetin in the extracts form C. aurantium L. in the human body.