Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of ethanol root extract of Mahonia oiwakensis in mice.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities, and protoberberine alkaloid contents of ethanol extract of MO roots (MOR(EtOH)).


METHODS
The analgesic activity of MOR(EtOH) was determined using acetic acid-induced writhing response and formalin test. The anti-inflammatory activity of MOR(EtOH) was determined using the lambda-carrageenan-induced paw oedema model. The protoberberine alkaloid contents of MOR(EtOH) were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).


RESULTS
MOR(EtOH) (100 and 500 mg/kg) decreased the acetic acid-induced writhing responses and licking times of the second phase in the formalin test. Moreover, carrageenan-induced paw oedema was significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner by administering MOR(EtOH) (100 and 500 mg/kg) at 3, 4, and 5h after the carrageenan injection. The serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and nitric oxide (NO) of MOR(EtOH)-treated mice were significantly reduced compared with those in the serum of animals administered carrageenan. Notably, MOR(EtOH) attenuated the expression of cyclo-oxygenase 2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and neutrophil infiltration in paw tissues injected with carrageenan. The anti-inflammatory mechanisms of MOR(EtOH) appear to be related to the inhibition of neutrophil infiltration, iNOS and COX-2 protein expression, NO release, and the decreasing TNF-alpha level in serum. The analytical results showed that the contents of berberine, palmatine and jatrorrhizine were 191.45 mg/g extract, 100.15 mg/g extract and 66.45 mg/g extract, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
These experimental results suggest that MOR(EtOH) produced both analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects in mice and may be a candidate for the development of pharmacological agents used in the treatment of inflammatory disorders.
Chao
Jung
J
Graduate Institute of Chinese Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Lu
Tsung-Chun
TC
Liao
Jiunn-Wang
JW
Huang
Tai-Hung
TH
Lee
Meng-Shiou
MS
Cheng
Hao-Yuan
HY
Ho
Li-Kang
LK
Kuo
Chao-Lin
CL
Peng
Wen-Huang
WH
D019342:Acetic Acid; D000700:Analgesics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001600:Berberine Alkaloids / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002351:Carrageenan; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000097:blood; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D005528:Foot / Q000473:pathology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D028143:Mahonia / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D020556:Neutrophil Infiltration / Q000187:drug effects; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D010147:Pain Measurement; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018517:Plant Roots; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
D000700:Analgesics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001600:Berberine Alkaloids; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D002351:Carrageenan; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D019342:Acetic Acid