RESUMO
Objective: To observe the preventive effects of combined application of total coumarin and essential oil of Angelicae Dahuricae Radix on the migraine rats induced by nitroglycerin, and to explore their mechanisms. Methods: A total of 56 Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group (saline 0. 1 mL · 10 g 1), migraine model group (saline 0. 1 mL · 10 g 1), total coumarin of Angelicae Dahuricae Radix group (100 mg · kg-1), essential oil of Angelicae Dahuricae Radix group (100 mg · kg-1), and low dose (25 mg · kg-1), middle dose (50 mg · kg-1) and high dose (100 mg · kg-1) of total coumarin and essential oil composition of Angelicae Dahuricae Radix groups (composition groups) (n=8). After continuously intragastric adminstration for 7 d, the rats were injected subcutaneously with nitroglycerin (10 mg · kg-1) for establishing the migraine models. The behavior of the rats were observed, the levels of nitric oxide (NO) in serum and brain tissue of rats, the levels of calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) and endothelin (ET) in plasma of the rats in various groups were detected. Results: Compared with normal control group, the frequencies of head shaking, the face shoting times of posterior legs and the scratching times of anterior limbs of the rats in migraine model group were increased (P<0. 05 or P<0. 01), and the levels of NO in serum and brain tissue of the rats were increased (P< 0. 01). Compared with migraine model group, the frequencies of head shaking, the face shoting times of posterior legs and scratching times of anterior limbs of the rats in total coumarin group, essential oil group, and composition groups were decreased (P<0. 05 or P<0. 01), and the levels of NO in serum and brain tissue of the rats were decreased (P<0. 05 or P<0. 01). Compared with migraine model group, the levels of CGRP and ET in plasma of the rats in essential oil group, total coumarin group and middle and high doses of composition groups were decreased (P<0. 05). Conclusion: The composition of two active ingredients of Angelicae Dahuricae Radix, total coumarin and essential oil, has preventive effects in the migraine rats induced by nitroglycerin, and their mechanisms may be related to regulation of the levels and function of vasoactive substances.