The analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect of WIN-34B, a new herbal formula for osteoarthritis composed of Lonicera japonica Thunb and Anemarrhena asphodeloides BUNGE in vivo.
BACKGROUND
Lonicera japonica Thunb and Anemarrhena asphodeloides BUNGE have been used for the treatment of a variety of inflammatory diseases, cold and infective diseases in many countries, including Korea and China.


OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to assess the anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of n-butanol fraction (WIN-34B) prepared from dried flowers of Lonicera japonica and dried roots of Anemarrhena asphodeloides as potential novel treatment of osteoarthritis.


METHODS
Anti-nociceptive activities of WIN-34B (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) were measured using acetic acid-induced writhing response, formalin-induced paw licking, hot plate, radiant heat tail-flick, carrageenan-induced paw pressure, and Hargreaves tests, respectively. Anti-inflammatory activities of WIN-34B (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) were assessed using acetic acid-induced vascular permeability, carrageenan-induced paw edema, and croton oil-induced ear edema. Anti-osteoarthritis effect of WIN-34B was analyzed using monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced osteoarthritis animal model.


RESULTS
WIN-34B exhibited better anti-inflammatory activity than that of celecoxib in carrageenan at the dose of 200 mg/kg and croton oil-induced paw edema and ear edema at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg. WIN-34B exhibited significant anti-inflammatory effects on vascular permeability. WIN-34B also exhibited significant anti-nociceptive activities in the late phase of formalin-induced paw licking and writhing response model in mice. In radiant heat tail-flick and carrageenan-induced paw pressure tests, WIN-34B at the dose of 400 mg/kg and at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg presented similar activities to indomethacin and celecoxib. Compared to indomethacin WIN-34B at 400mg/kg showed similar or better anti-nociceptive activities after 1 and 2h of theraphy in the hot plate test and better anti-nociceptive activity than that of celecoxib in Hargreves test. In the MIA-induced osteoarthritis animal models, WIN-34B at 400 mg/kg exhibited similar or better anti-nociceptive property than that of celecoxib throughout the pain measurement periods.


CONCLUSIONS
When compared to celecoxib, WIN-34B exhibited similar or better anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities in osteoarthritic animal models, which may become a potential novel treatment for osteoarthritis.
Kang
Moonkyu
M
Central Research Institute, WhanIn Pharm. Co., Ltd, Yeongtong-Gu, Suwon-si, Republic of Korea.
Jung
Inho
I
Hur
Jonghyun
J
Kim
Soon Han
SH
Lee
Jeong Hun
JH
Kang
Ji-Yun
JY
Jung
Kyoung Chul
KC
Kim
Kyoung Soo
KS
Yoo
Myung Chul
MC
Park
Dong-Suk
DS
Lee
Jae-Dong
JD
Cho
Yong-Baik
YB
D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D031403:Anemarrhena; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002199:Capillary Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D002351:Carrageenan; D000068579:Celecoxib; D003436:Croton Oil; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D035264:Flowers; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007461:Iodoacetates; D031239:Lonicera; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018517:Plant Roots; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000700:Analgesics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007461:Iodoacetates; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011720:Pyrazoles; D013449:Sulfonamides; C569023:WIN 34B; D003436:Croton Oil; D002351:Carrageenan; D000068579:Celecoxib; D007213:Indomethacin