title: Andrographis Paniculata shows anti-nociceptive effects in an animal model of sensory hypersensitivity associated with migraine.
abstract: Administration of nitroglycerin (NTG) to rats induces a hyperalgesic condition and neuronal activation of central structures involved in migraine pain. In order to identify therapeutic strategies for migraine pain, we evaluated the anti-nociceptive activity of Andrographis Paniculata (AP), a herbaceous plant, in the hyperalgesia induced by NTG administration in the formalin test. We also analyzed mRNA expression of cytokines in specific brain areas after AP treatment. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were pre-treated with AP extract 30 minutes before NTG or vehicle injection. The data show that AP extract significantly reduced NTG-induced hyperalgesia in phase II of the test, 4 hours after NTG injection. In addition, AP extract reduced IL-6 mRNA expression in the medulla and mesencephalon and also mRNA levels of TNFalpha in the mesencephalic region. These findings suggest that AP extract may be a potential therapeutic approach in the treatment of general pain, and possibly of migraine.
authors.forename: Rosaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Siani
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Demartini
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zanaboni
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nappi
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Davinelli
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scapagnini
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tassorelli
mesh_terms: D035685:Andrographis; D000089002:Andrographis paniculata; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D015850:Interleukin-6; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C000713167:Andrographis paniculata extract