title: EGb761 Ameliorates Neuropathic Pain by Scavenging Reactive Oxygen Species.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neuropathic pain is a well-known type of chronic pain caused by damage to the nervous system. Until recently, researchers have found that increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) contributes to the development of exaggerated pain hypersensitivity during neuropathic pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, we investigated the antinociceptive efficacy of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb761) in chronic constriction injury (CCI) model of neuropathic pain of rats. To explore the underlying mechanisms, the effects of EGb761 on the excitability of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and activation of JNK in DRG were explored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We showed that systemic administration of EGb761 inhibited the behavioral responses of neuropathic pain and found that EGb761 treatment could inhibit the H2O2-induced depolarization in the acutely dissociated DRG neurons. In addition, we found that EGb761 treatment could inhibit the expression of p-JNK in DRG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken together, our results suggest that administration of EGb761 can ameliorate neuropathic pain, and further indicate that JNK, which is activated by both exogenous and endogenous ROS, might be the mechanism underlying the effects of EGb761 on CCI neuropathic pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, The First College of Clinical Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang Central People's Hospital, Yichang, China.
authors.forename: Xiangdi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Qibin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ke
authors.forename: Heqing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fang
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D020441:Ginkgo biloba; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D048670:MAP Kinase Kinase 4 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000293:injuries; D000096983:Ginkgo Extract
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D048670:MAP Kinase Kinase 4; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C063170:Ginkgo biloba extract; D000096983:Ginkgo Extract