title: Analgesic effect of Chinese herbal formula Hua-Jian-Ba-Du ointment on visceral pain in mice induced by acetic acid.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Visceral pain is one of the most important pains caused by cancer or other diseases, and most of the medications may lead to tolerance, addiction, and toxic side effects. Hua-Jian-Ba-Du Ointment (HJBDO), which is a commonly used conjugate based on traditional Chinese medicine theory, has been effective against visceral pain. Here, we verify the efficacy and underlying mechanism of HJBDO in an acetic-acid induced visceral pain model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mice were subjected to acetic acid with or without HJBDO. Hua-Jian-Ba-Du Ointment at low (7.5 mL/kg•d), moderate (15 mL/kg•d), and high (30 mL/kg•d) dosages was applied on the abdomen, 3 times per day for 3 days. The acetic acid writhing test was used to evaluate antinociception. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) in serum, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in peritoneal fluid were detected by ELISA. 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), and β-endorphin (β-EP) were examined by high performance liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay, respectively. N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor (NMDAR1) and c-fos expressions in both rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) and spinal dorsal horn were determined by western blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hua-Jian-Ba-Du Ointment at 3 dosage levels produced dose-dependent antinociception and shortened the latent time. Hua-Jian-Ba-Du Ointment at high or moderate dosage inhibited the release of TNF-α, IL-6, and PGE2, as well as increased the release of IL-2. Hua-Jian-Ba-Du Ointment could also increase NE and 5-HT contents and decrease the NE content. No effect of HJBDO at 3 dosages on the DA system was detected. Furthermore, HJBDO could suppress the expressions of NMDAR and c-fos in both RVM and spinal dorsal horn.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results exhibited the analgesic effect of HJBDO on visceral pain in mice, and this effect might be mediated by the regulation of inflammation and neurotransmitters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Nan Kai District, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Shaojun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital to Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nan Kai District, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital to Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nan Kai District, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Xiaojiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Nan Kai District, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: He
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital to Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nan Kai District, Tianjin, China jiayjjiayj@126.com.
authors.forename: Yingjie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jia
mesh_terms: D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000633:toxicity; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000201:enzymology; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D051379:Mice; D009824:Ointments; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000378:metabolism; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism; D059265:Visceral Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D009824:Ointments; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D019342:Acetic Acid
keywords: Chinese medicine; Hua-Jian-Ba-Du Ointment; complementary medicine; inflammation; neurotransmitters; visceral pain