TAT-SOD　is　a　recombinant　protein　of　superoxide　dismutase　fused　with　TAT　peptide.　By　pure　accident,　we　discovered　that　topical　application　of　TAT-SOD　to　acupoints　could　result　in　acupuncture-like　action.　This　study　aimed　to　validate　the　accidental　discovery　by　investigating　the　effect　on　simple　obesity　of　the　topical　application　of　TAT-SOD　to　acupoints　in　comparison　with　acupuncture.　90　subjects　were　divided　into　3　groups　for　12-week　treatments.　Regular　hospital　acupuncture　treatment　was　given　to　Acupuncture　Group　3　times　a　week.　TAT-SOD　Group　were　instructed　first　to　locate　acupoints　and　apply　0.1　ml　of　5000u　SOD/ml　TAT-SOD　cream　in　an　area　of　1　cm(2)　to　each　of　the　same　set　of　acupoints,　which　they　then　conducted　at　home　three　times　daily.　Placebo　Group　applied　the　vehicle　cream　the　same　manner　as　TAT-SOD　Group.　Both　TAT-SOD　and　acupuncture　treatments　decreased　adiposity　with　overall　clinical　effective　rates　of　60.0%　and　76.7%,　respectively.　The　placebo　group　showed　no　improvement.　The　results　validate　that　the　enzymatic　removal　of　the　intracellular　superoxide　at　acupoints　could　generate　acupuncture-like　effects,　and　indicate　a　possibility　of　the　new　method　as　a　simple　substitute　to　acupuncture　and　an　insight　of　superoxide　modulation　along　meridians　for　acupuncture　mechanism.　(C)　2011　Elsevier　Inc.　All　rights　reserved.