ABSTRACT
AIM To study the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of ethanol extract of Toddalia asiatica Lamn.and the mechanism.METHODS Both inflammatory rat model induced by carrageenan and pain model induced by formalin were applied to investigating the analgesic effect of extract of Toddalia asiatica Lam.ELISA kit was used to detect the contents of β-EP,5-HT and PGE2 in serum of carrageenan-treated rats,contents of TNF-αand IL-1β in skin tissue of inflammatory rats,and content of LTB4 in serum of formalin-treated rats;immunohistochemical method was used to observe the SP and FOS protein expressions in rat spinal cord.RESULTS The ethanol extract of Toddalia asiatica Lam.could significantly reduce the rate of toe swelling.In the formalin test,the ethanol extract of Toddalia asiatica Lam.reduced not only the total licking time,but also the content of PGE2,especially in the high dose group.And lowered serum 5-HT contents were observed in all the three dose groups,but a much better performance was found in both the high and low dose groups,and the high dose group's capability in increasing serum β-EP content was also noticed.TNF-α and IL-1β contents in skin tissue were reduced in various dose groups.Middle and high dose groups inhibited FOS protein expression.And the content of LTB4 in serum was obviously decreased in the high dose group.CONCLUSION The anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of ethanol extract of Toddalia asiatica Lam.may associate with its power in increasing β-EP in serum,decreasing PGE2,5-HT,LTB4 contents,reducing TNF-α,IL-1β contents in skin tissue,and lowering SP and FOS protein expressions in spinal cord.