Effect of Intraperitoneal Administered Ginseng Total Saponins on Hyperalgesia Induced by Repeated Intramuscular Injection of Acidic Saline in Rats

Won Kim

Hyun Kang

Jung Kim

Geun Choi

^{Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.}

^{Department of Internal Medicine, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.}

^{Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Ilsan Hospital, Dongguk University, Goyang, Korea.}

^{Corresponding author.}

Address correspondence to: Hyun Kang, MD, PhD, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine.Chung-Ang University College of Medicine,, 224-1 Heukseok-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, 156-755, Korea, E-mail:Email: moc.revan@00namor

Received 2013 May 28; Accepted 2014 Mar 8.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the antinociceptive activity of ginseng total saponins (GTS) on hyperalgesia induced by repeated intramuscular injections of acidic saline in rats and to examine the mechanisms involved. Rats were injected intraperitoneally with a 0.9% saline vehicle or various doses of GTS after the development of hyperalgesia. Rats were then injected with N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) or naloxone 10 min before GTS injection. The mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) was assessed with von Frey filaments. The MWT was significantly increased after intraperitoneal injection of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg of GTS when compared with the MWT after the development of hyperalgesia. Injection of GTS with NMDA showed a significant decrease in the MWT when compared with GTS injection. GTS showed an antinociceptive activity against chronic muscle-induced pain, and the effect of GTS may be mediated by NMDA.

Key Words: : acid, chronic, hyperalgesia, muscle, Panax ginseng

Abstract

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