Objective : Since neuropathic pain shows a variety of symptoms according to various mechanisms, there are many difficulties in treatment and various treatments have been tried. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Araliae Continentalis Radix pharmacopuncture(ACR) on neuropathic pain.
Methods : After dividing the white rat into six groups, the sciatic nerves of five groups except the normal group were excised to induce neuropathic pain. Except normal and control group, the other four groups were injected by saline(Saline group), ACR 1.100mg/kg(ACR 1 group), ACR 2.743mg/kg(ACR 2 group), ACR 5.486mg/kg(ACR 3 group) at hwando, twice a week for a total of six times in three weeks. Withdrawal response react time and force intensity, c-Fos, TNF-α , IL-6, INF-γ were observed to investigate the efficacy of ACR in each group. Body weight, WBC, RBC, HGB, PLT, AST, ALT, BUN, Cr changes were observed to check the safety of ACR.
Results : Both withdrawal response react time & force intensity were significantly increased in the ACR2 and ACR3 groups at 3 weeks. C-Fos tended to decrease in all ACR groups and significantly decreased in ACR3 group. In blood serum, TNF-α showed a tendency to decrease in all ACR groups and a significant decrease in ACR3 group. But IL-6 and INF-γ did not change significantly in all experimental groups. In the spinal cord, INF-γ was significantly decreased in the ACR3 group. But TNF-α and IL-6 were not significantly changed in all experimental groups. Body weight was not changed significantly in all experimental groups. RBC increased significantly in AC 2 group, HGB increased in ACR3 group, and PLT increased significantly in all experimental groups. ALT significantly decreased in ACR1 group, and there were no significant changes in AST, BUN, and Cr in all experimental groups.
Conclusion : At high concentrations, ACR pharmacopuncture reduced c-Fos, TNF-α in the blood serum and INF-γ in the spinal cord thereby suppressed allodynia, a symptom of neuropathic pain. There seems to be need for more detailed study about pharmacopuncture concentration or mechanism.