The Analgesic Effect of Paeoniflorin on Neonatal Maternal Separation–Induced Visceral Hyperalgesia in Rats

Xiao jun Zhang, Zhi Li, Wai mui Leung, Liang Liu, Hong xi Xu, Zhaoxiang Bian*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

67 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Paeoniflorin (PF) is one of the principle active ingredients of the root of Paeonia lactiflora Pall (family Ranunculaceae), a Chinese herb traditionally used to relieve pain, especially visceral pain. The present study aimed to investigate both the effect of PF on neonatal maternal separation-induced visceral hyperalgesia in rats and the mechanism by which such effect is exerted. A dose-dependent analgesic effect was produced by PF (45, 90, 180, and 360 mg/kg i.p.). Centrally administered PF (4.5 mg/kg i.c.v) also produced a significant analgesic effect. The analgesic effect of PF (45 mg/kg i.p.) was maximal at 30 minutes after administration. Furthermore, it was found that nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI, 3 mg/kg i.p.), dl-α-methyltyrosine (α-AMPT, 250 mg/kg i.p.), and yohimbine (3 mg/kg i.p.) could block the analgesic effect of PF (45 mg/kg i.p.). Time course determination of PF in brain nuclei showed that the maximal concentration of PF was 30 minutes after intraperitoneal administration of PF (180 mg/kg) in cerebral nuclei, involving the amygdala, hypothalamus, thalamus, and cortex. These data indicate that PF has an analgesic effect on visceral pain in rats with neonatal maternal separation and that this effect may be mediated by κ-opioid receptors and α2-adrenoceptors in the central nervous system. Perspective: This study demonstrates that PF has an analgesic effect on pain in visceral hyperalgesic rats. These results suggest that PF might be potentially useful in clinical therapy for irritable bowel syndrome as a pharmacological agent in alleviating visceral pain.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)497-505
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Pain
Volume9
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2008

Scopus Subject Areas

  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

User-Defined Keywords

  • analgesic effect
  • neonatal maternal separation
  • Paeoniflorin
  • visceral hyperalgesia

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