Korean J Physiol Pharmacol.  2012 Apr;16(2):119-123. 10.4196/kjpp.2012.16.2.119.

Effect of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb Extract on the Antinociception and Mechanisms in Mouse

• Park SH
• Sim YB
• Kang YJ
• Lee JK
• Lim SS
• Suh HW

• KMID: 2071757
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4196/kjpp.2012.16.2.119

Abstract

In the present study, the antinociceptive profiles of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb extract were examined in ICR mice. Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb extract administered orally (200 mg/kg) showed an antinociceptive effect as measured by the tail-flick and hot-plate tests. In addition, Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb extract attenuated the writhing numbers in the acetic acid-induced writhing test. Furthermore, the cumulative nociceptive response time for intrathecal (i.t.) injection of substance P (0.7 microg) was diminished by Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb extract. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) pretreatment with yohimbine (alpha2-adrenergic receptor antagonist) attenuated antinociceptive effect induced by Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb extract in the writhing test. However, naloxone (opioid receptor antagonist) or methysergide (5-HT serotonergic receptor antagonist) did not affect antinociception induced by Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb extract in the writhing test. Our results suggest that Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb extract shows an antinociceptive property in various pain models. Furthermore, this antinociceptive effect of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb extract may be mediated by alpha2-adrenergic receptor, but not opioidergic and serotonergic receptors.

Keyword

Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb; Anti-nociception; Inflammatory pain; alpha2 adrenoceptor

MeSH Terms

Agrimonia
Animals
Methysergide
Mice
Mice, Inbred ICR
Naloxone
Reaction Time
Substance P
Yohimbine
Methysergide
Naloxone
Substance P
Yohimbine

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 The antinociceptive effect of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb extract administered orally in the tail-flick and hot-plate tests. Mice were administered orally with either vehicle or 200 mg/kg of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb extract and the tail-flick (A) or hot-plate (B) response was measured at 30 min after treatment. Acetaminophen is positive control. The vertical bars denote the standard error of the mean. The number of animal used for each group was 8~10 (*p<0.05, **p<0.01 compared to the vehicle-treated control group of mice).

• 

  Fig. 2 Effect of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb extract on the nociceptive response induced by various pain models. Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb extract (200 mg/kg) was administered orally and then, 0.25 ml of 1% acetic acid solution was injected intraperitoneally 30 min after treatment. The number of writhing was counted for 30 min following acetic acid injection (A). Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb extract (200 mg/kg) was administered orally for 30 min prior to the substance P (0.7 µg per 5 µl) injection intrathecally (B). The cumulative response time of licking, scratching and biting episodes was measured for 30 min. Acetaminophen is positive control. The vertical bars indicate the standard error of the mean. The number of animal used for each group was 8~10 (***p<0.001, compared with control group).

• 

  Fig. 3 Effect of naloxone (A), methysergide (B) and yohimbine (C) injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) on inhibition of the writhing response induced by Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb extract administered orally. Naloxone, methysergide, or yohimbine (5 mg/kg) was pretreated intraperitoneally for 10 min, before oral administration of vehicle or Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb extract (200 mg/kg). Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb extract or vehicle was administered orally and then, 0.25 ml of 1% acetic acid solution was injected i.p. 30 min after treatment. The number of writhing was counted for 30 min following acetic acid injection. The vertical bars denote the standard error of the mean. The number of animal used for each group was 8~10 (***p<0.001, compared with control group).

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