[The analgesic mechanism of total flavone of rhododendron].

OBJECTIVE

To study the analgesic mechanisms of total flavone of rhododendron (TFR).

METHODS

On hot-plate test in mice, the changes of the latencies of licking paws were observed after drug administration. Meanwhile, the contents of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2 ) in the mice serum and cereburum were measured by Griss reaction and spectrophotomtry methods, respectively. The expression of inducible nitricoxide synthase (iNOS) in mices was detected by the reverse transcription -porymerse chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique.

RESULTS

TFR 100, 200 mg/kg ig remarkably prolonged the latencies of licking paws in mice. 100 mg/kg TFR ig significantly increased the mice serum NO content, and 200 mg/kg TFR ig markedly increased the NO content as well as promoted the iNOS mRNA expression in mice cerebrum. TFR 50,100,200 mg/kg ig significantly reduced the contents of PGE2 in mice cerebrum and 200 mg/kg TFR ig remarkably reduced the PGE2 contents in mice serum.

CONCLUSIONS

Analgesic effects of TFR may be related to promoting the release of NO and increasing expression the of iNOS as well as inhibiting the production of PGE2.