title: Ginsenosides induce differential antinociception and inhibit substance P induced-nociceptive response in mice.
abstract: Ginsenosides are main pharmacoactive molecules of ginseng. The antinociceptive activity of ginsenosides after intrathecal (i.t.) injection was examined in formalin test. We also investigated the effects of ginsenosides on substance P (SP) induced-pain behaviors by i.t. treatment using mice. Pretreatment of ginsenosides by i.t. induced the inhibition of biting and licking of hind paw injected with 1% formalin with dose-dependent manner. The ED50 was 23 (19-28, 95% C.I.) microg/mouse for acute phase and 15 (9-23, 95% C.I.) microg/mouse for tonic phase. Interestingly, cotreatment of ginsenosides with SP also inhibited SP-induced pain behaviors (scratching, licking or biting of hind portion of body) with dose-dependent manner. The ED50 for the inhibition of SP-induced pain behavior by ginsenosides was 30 (11-85, 95% C.I.) microg/mouse. These results suggest that ginsenosides have antinociceptive activity in formalin test and this effect is due to blocking of SP-induced nociceptive information to postsynaptic site(s) at the spinal level.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Kwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Nah
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: K Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Nah
mesh_terms: D000698:Analgesia; D000818:Animals; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005557:Formaldehyde; D036145:Ginsenosides; D051379:Mice; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced; D005894:Panax; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012503:Saponins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013373:Substance P / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D002491:Central Nervous System Agents; D036145:Ginsenosides; D012503:Saponins; D005557:Formaldehyde; D013373:Substance P