The Analgesic Effect of Aconitum Sinomontanum Nakai Pharmacopuncture in Sprague-Dawley Rats

Abstract

Background: Aconitum sinomontanum Nakai (ASN) has been reported to have analgesic effects. In this study an animal model of pharmacopuncture using ASN (100-500 mg/kg) was examined.Methods: Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (<i>n</i> = 40) were randomly assigned to ASN-Low (1 mg/mL, 1.8 mL, ASN-L), ASN-Intermediate (5 mg/mL, 1.8 mL, ASN-M), ASN-High (10 mg/mL, 1.8 mL, ASN-H), negative control (0.2 mL normal saline), and positive control (0.2 mL 0.5% lidocaine) groups. All experiments were administered to the rats’ left hind leg. The analgesic response was assessed by monitoring the physical (hot plate, and von Frey test) and chemical (formalin) responses to pain.Results: All ASN pharmacopuncture groups demonstrated significant differences in pain response to the hot plate test, von Frey test, and formalin test, compared to the control group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The response of the ASN-M group and ASN-H groups to the hot plate, the formalin, and the von Frey tests were significantly different, compared to the lidocaine group (<i>p</i> < 0.05).Conclusion: ASN pharmacopuncture had a significant analgesic effect on SD rats in response to physical and chemical models of pain.