Effects of ligustrazine on the expression of neurotransmitters in the trigeminal ganglion of a rat migraine model

Abstract

Background: Migraine is one of the most common neurological diseases which has been treated by active substances from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), such as ligustrazine, an extract of the Chinese herb Chuanxiong. However, the pathogenesis of migraine and the curative mechanisms of ligustrazine have remained unclear. The genes P2X3, TRPV1, ERK, and c-fos have been implicated to play a role. In this work, we attempted to elucidate the analgesic mechanism of ligustrazine using a classic migraine-representative rat model. Methods:The migraine rat model was established by administration of nitroglycerin (NTG). Ligustrazine treatment was administered by intravenous injection. The animal's behavior was continuously recorded, and then trigeminal ganglions (TGs) were isolated. Total RNA was extracted from cells and total protein was extracted from TG. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot analyses were used to detect the levels of P2X3, TRPV1, c-Fos, and ERK in TG.Results: Ligustrazine could reduce the neurological activities of NTG-induced migraine rats. The rats TG nerve showed varying degrees of expression of P2X3, TRPV1, c-Fos and ERK expression element.Ligustrazine could inhibit over-expression of P2X3, TRPV1, c-fos, and ERK in the TG nerve of NTGinduced migraine rats.Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that ligustrazine had potent activity against NTG-induced migraine rats through inhibition of the c-fos/ERK signaling pathway. This work may provide a comprehensive basis for a better understanding of the pathogenesis of migraine and the curative mechanisms of ligustrazine.

Chinese herbal medicine for migraine management: A hospital-based retrospective analysis of electronic medical records

“…Also, the volatile oil from chuan xiong presents an analgesic effect by inhibiting the c -fos gene expression and plasma CGRP in nitroglycerin-induced headaches in rats ( 67 ). In addition, a chuan xiong extract, ligustrazine, showed potent activity against nitroglycerin-induced migraine in rats by inhibiting the c -fos/ERK signaling pathway ( 68 ).…”

Natural products for migraine: Data-mining analyses of Chinese Medicine classical literature

“…The main active compound of chuan xiong, Senkyunolide I (orally administered at 16 and 32 mg/kg), presented an analgesics effect by interfering monoamine neurotransmitters and the corresponding turnover rates, as well as nitric oxide (NO), compared with the salineadministered controls in mice models (Wang et al, 2011). Another compound, Ligustrazine (40mg, intravenously injected), showed anti-migraine potentials through inhibiting the c-fos/ERK signalling pathway in the trigeminal ganglion Frontiers in Pharmacology frontiersin.org nerve of nitroglycerin-induced migraine rat models (Li et al, 2021). Bai zhi is another well-known anti-headache herb in Chinese medicine (Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission, 2020).…”

Rosavin: Research Advances in Extraction and Synthesis, Pharmacological Activities and Therapeutic Effects on Diseases of the Characteristic Active Ingredients of Rhodiola rosea L.

“…The use of analgesics can effectively relieve the pain caused by most diseases and side effects of clinical treatments. Many active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine have analgesic activity [40]. RRL ethanol extract (containing 2.7% Rosavin and 2.5% Salidroside) in combination with B vitamins significantly reduced formalin-injection-induced pain in mice synergistically.…”