Vitis amurensis, Aralia cordata, and Glycyrrhizae radix have been widely used in Korea, China, and Japan because of their anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. The present study investigated the anti-nociceptive and antiinflammatory properties of an ethanol extract (SSB) of a mixture of three medicinal plants of Vitis amurensis (stem and leaf), Aralia cordata (stem and leaf), and Glycyrrhizae radix. Anti-nociceptive activity was determined using chemical (acetic acid and formalin) and thermal (hot plate) stimuli-induced algesia tests. Formalin-induced paw edema was evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity. SSB (25–100 mg/kg, p.o.) and ibuprofen (100 mg/kg, p.o.), a positive nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), significantly inhibited the acetic acid-induced writhing response caused by peripherally mediated algesia, but failed to protect thermal nociception in the hot plate test that was employed for centrally mediated analgesic activity. However, morphine (5 mg/kg, s.c.) used as a positive opioid control alleviated the acetic acid-induced writhing response and thermal nociception in the hot plate test. In the formalin test, SSB (50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o.) inhibited the second phase response (peripheral inflammatory algesia), but not the first phase response (central algesia), whereas morphine inhibited both phases of the pain response. Both SSB (25-100 mg/kg, p.o.) and ibuprofen (200 mg/kg) caused significant reduction of the formalin-induced increase of paw thickness, which was the index of inflammation. These results suggest that SSB has a significant anti-nociceptive activity that seems to be peripheral, but not central. SSB also displays antiinflammatory activity in an acute inflammatory model. The present study supports a possible use of SSB to treat pain and inflammation.

The present study was to evaluate effects of vitamin E on intravenous administration of lidocaine-induced antinociception. Experiments were carried out using male Sprague-Dawley rats. Orofacial formalin-induced nociceptive behavioral responses were used as the orofacial animal pain model. Subcutaneous injection of formalin produced significant nociceptive scratching behavior. Intraperitoneal injection of 5 and 10 mg/kg of lidocaine attenuated formalin-induced nociceptive behavior in the 2nd phase, compared to the vehicle-treated group. Intraperitoneal injection of 1 g/kg of vitamin E also attenuated the formalin-induced nociceptive behavior in the 2nd phase, compared to the vehicle-treated group. However, low dose of vitamin E (0.5 g/kg) did not affect the nociceptive behavioral responses produced by subcutaneous injection of formalin. The present study also investigated effects of intraperitoneal injection of both vitamin E and lidocaine on orofacial formalin-induced behavioral responses. Vehicle treatment affected neither formalin-induced behavioral responses nor lidocaineinduced antinociceptive effects. However, intraperitoneal injection of 0.5 g/kg of vitamin E enhanced the lidocaineinduced antinociceptive effects in the 2nd phase compared to the vehicle-treated group. Intraperitoneal injection of naloxone, an opioid receptor antagonist, did not affect antinociception produced by intraperitoneal injections of both vitamin E and lidocaine. These results suggest that treatment with vitamin E enhances the systemic treatment with lidocaine-induced antinociception and reduces side effects when systemically treated with lidocaine. Therefore, the combined treatment with vitamin E and lidocaine is a potential therapeutic for chronic orofacial pain.

이상의 실험 결과들을 요약하면, 포르말린을 측두하악관절 내로 주입하여 발생한 염증성 통증 행위반응은 QX-314의 투여로 감소할 수 있었다. 저농도의 QX-314의 진통작용은 TRPV1 통로를 이용하여 세포막 내로 이동하여 작용이 나타났으며 고농도의 QX-314는 TRPV1 통로와 무관하게 진통작용을 나타내었다. 이와 같은 결과는 측두하악관절 장애로 인해 발생되는 염증성 통증에 QX-314가 효과적인 치료제로 사용할 수 있다는 것을 말해주며, 특히 고농도의 QX-314가 세포막을 이동하는 경로에 대한 연구가 더 진행된다면 임상에서 QX-314가 진통제로서 사용할 수 있는 계기가 될 것으로 판단된다.