Ligustilide inhibits microglia-mediated proinflammatory cytokines production and inflammatory pain.

Ligustilide inhibits microglia-mediated proinflammatory cytokines production and inflammatory pain.
Brain Res Bull. 2014 Oct 8;
Authors: Zhu MD, Zhao LX, Wang XT, Gao YJ, Zhang ZJ
Abstract
Ligustilide is the main component of Danggui essential oil, and recently reported to have anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effect. Increasing evidence suggests that glia-mediated neuroinflammation in the spinal cord plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of chronic pain. In the present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive effect of ligustilide both in vitro and in vivo. In microglial cell line BV2 cells, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) time-dependently increased the mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6), which was decreased by pretreatment with ligustilide in a dose-dependent manner. Ligustilide also decreased LPS-induced proinflammatory cytokines production in primary cultured microglia. In vivo, intrathecal injection of LPS induced mechanical allodynia in mice. Intravenous injection of ligustilide prevented LPS-induced mechanical allodynia, and decreased LPS-induced TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 up-regulation in the spinal cord. In addition, repetitive intravenous injection of ligustilide attenuated intraplantar injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. The same treatment of ligustilide also inhibited CFA-induced TNF-α, IL-1β, and ...

Source: Brain Research Bulletin - October 8, 2014 Category: Neurology Authors: Zhu MD, Zhao LX, Wang XT, Gao YJ, Zhang ZJ Tags: Brain Res Bull Source Type: research