title: Bilobalide, a unique constituent of Ginkgo biloba, inhibits inflammatory pain in rats.
abstract: Standardized Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 has been shown to inhibit inflammatory hyperalgesia in rats; however, the mechanism of action is not known. This study set out to investigate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic potential of bilobalide, a unique G. biloba constituent, in three well-characterized models of acute inflammatory pain. The effect of oral, intraplantar or intrathecal administration of bilobalide or drug-vehicle (0.25% agar; 10% ethanol in H2O) on responses to noxious thermal and mechanical stimulation of the hindpaw, and paw oedema were assessed in adult male Wistar rats before and after intradermal hindpaw injection of carrageenan (3%; 50 μl) or capsaicin (10 μg; 50 μl) or after hindpaw incision (n=6-8/group). Oral administration of bilobalide (10-30 mg/kg) significantly inhibited thermal hyperalgesia in response to carrageenan, capsaicin and paw incision, independent of dose, with an efficacy similar to that of diclofenac. In the carrageenan model, mechanical hypersensitivity and paw oedema were also significantly reduced after treatment with bilobalide (10-30 mg/kg). Intrathecal administration of bilobalide (0.5-1 μg) inhibited carrageenan-induced thermal hyperalgesia, but had no effect on mechanical hypersensitivity or paw oedema (application≥2 μg induced adverse effects, precluding testing of higher doses). Intraplantar administration of bilobalide (30-100 μg) had no effect. These data show that bilobalide is a potent anti-inflammatory and antihyperalgesic agent, the therapeutic effects of which are mediated in part through a central site of action, and may account for the therapeutic action of the whole extract G. biloba.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goldie
authors.forename: Sharron
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dolan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000633:toxicity; D002351:Carrageenan / Q000633:toxicity; D003517:Cyclopentanes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D005663:Furans / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D046934:Ginkgolides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000473:pathology; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000188:drug therapy; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018689:Sensory System Agents / Q000633:toxicity; D014828:Vocalization, Animal / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D003517:Cyclopentanes; D005663:Furans; D046934:Ginkgolides; D018689:Sensory System Agents; D002351:Carrageenan; C073710:bilobalide; D002211:Capsaicin