Korean J Physiol Pharmacol.  1997 Apr;1(2):143-149.

Study on ginseng protopanaxadiol and protopanaxatriol saponins-induced antinociception

• Shin YH
• Kim SC
• Han JW
• Kim DH
• Han SS
• Shin DH
• Nah SY

Abstract

We studied the effects of ginseng protopanaxadiol (PD) and protopanaxatriol (PT) saponins on the analgesia using several pain tests such as writhing, formalin, and tail-flick test. Using mouse, pretreatment of PD or PT saponins (i.p.) induced inhibition of abdominal constrictions caused by 0.9% acetic acid administration (i.p.). The AD-50 was around 27 (17-43) mg/kg for PD and 13.5 (3-61) mg/kg for PT saponins in writhing test. Both PD and PT saponins also showed the inhibition of bitings and lickings of hindpaw after administration of 1% formalin. In particular, both PD and PT saponins showed analgesic effects on second phase of pain. The AD-50 was 44.5 (26-76) mg/kg for PD and 105 (55-200) mg/kg for PT saponins in second phase of formalin test. For first phase pain inhibition by PD or PT saponins, they were required higher concentrations. However, PD saponins showed weak analgesic effects in tail-flick test with high concentration. In conclusion, we found that both PD and PT saponins have the analgesic effects in writhing test and second phase of pain in formalin test. These results suggest that both PD and PT saponins inhibit neurogenic or tonic pain rather than acute pain.

Keyword

Pain; Ginseng PD and PT saponins; Differenttal antinociception

MeSH Terms

Acetic Acid
Acute Pain
Analgesia
Animals
Constriction
Formaldehyde
Mice
Pain Measurement
Panax*
Saponins
Acetic Acid
Formaldehyde
Saponins