Anesth Pain Med.  2008 Jul;3(3):205-209.

Effect of Intrathecal Ginsenosides on Mechanical Allodynia in a Neuropathic Rat Model

• Yoon MH
• Lee HK
• Kim WM
• Park JH
• Kim YO
• Huang LJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Traditionally, ginseng has been widely used to manage various types of diseases. In particular, the analgesic effect of ginsenosides has been reported for inflammatory pain. However, the effect of ginsenosides on neuropathic pain has not been determined. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of ginsenosides on neuropathic pain in the spinal cord.
METHODS
Neuropathic pain was induced by ligation of the lumbar 5, 6 spinal nerves in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Intrathecal catheters were placed into the subarachnoid space of rats that presented with mechanical allodynia. Mechanical allodynia was evaluated by measuring the withdrawal threshold to a von Frey filament applied to the plantar surface of rats. The analgesic effect of intrathecal ginsenosides was observed at 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 min after delivery of the ginsenosides.
RESULTS
After nerve ligation, the paw withdrawal threshold was significantly decreased at the ligated site. At the doses used in this study, intrathecal ginsenosides did not alter the withdrawal threshold in the ligated paw during the entire observation period. However, a dose of intrathecal ginsenosides greater than 1,500microg caused motor impairment.
CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that ginsenosides may not have a direct modulatory role in the transmission of neuropathic pain at the spinal level.

Keyword

analgesia; ginsenosides; neuropathic pain; spinal cord

MeSH Terms

Analgesia
Animals
Catheters
Ginsenosides
Humans
Hyperalgesia
Ligation
Male
Neuralgia
Panax
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Spinal Cord
Spinal Nerves
Subarachnoid Space
Ginsenosides