title: Analgesic effects of a standardized bioflavonoid composition from Scutellaria baicalensis and Acacia catechu.
abstract: Anti-inflammatory properties of both baicalin and catechins have been widely reported. However, the reports of analgesic effects of baicalin and catechins are limited. Three commonly used pain-related animal models were employed to evaluate the analgesic activity of UP446, a standardized bioflavonoid composition of baicalin and catechins. Carrageenan-induced paw edema, formalin test, and abdominal constriction assays were used to evaluate antinociceptive activity of 150 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg oral doses of UP446. Ibuprofen was used as a reference compound in each test. Pretreatment of carrageenan-induced hyperalgesic animals with UP446 at 150 mg/kg oral dosage reduced the hypersensitivity of pain by 39.5%. Similarly, a single dose of UP446, given orally at 100 mg/kg, exhibited 58% and 71.9% inhibition in pain sensitivity compared to vehicle-treated control in writhing and formalin tests, respectively. These findings suggest that the standardized anti-inflammatory bioflavonoid composition, UP446, could also be employed to inhibit nociception.
authors.affiliation: Unigen Pharmaceuticals Inc., 2660 Willamette Drive NE, Lacey,WA 98516, USA. myimam@unigen.net
authors.forename: Mesfin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yimam
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brownell
authors.forename: Mandee
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hodges
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Jia
mesh_terms: D000045:Acacia / Q000737:chemistry*; D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002351:Carrageenan; D002392:Catechin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004487:Edema / Q000188:drug therapy; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005557:Formaldehyde; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051379:Mice; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use; D031364:Scutellaria baicalensis / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005419:Flavonoids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D005557:Formaldehyde; C038044:baicalin; D002392:Catechin; D002351:Carrageenan; D007052:Ibuprofen