Qianghuo Shengshi decoction exerts anti-inflammatory and analgesic via MAPKs/CREB signaling pathway

Traditional Chinese Medicine Qianghuo Shengshi decoction (QSD) is widely used in the treatment of nervous headache, rheumatoid arthritis, sciatica, allergic purpura, and other clinical diseases in China. However, the underlying mechanisms of its anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects has not been elucidated.

The aim of this study was to confirm the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects and the underlying mechanism of QSD in vivo. In addition, this study was also to isolate and analyze the main active components of QSD by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

In this study, the acetic acid writhing test, hot plate test and ear swelling test and formalin test were carried out to explore the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of QSD. The doses were set to 7.8 g/kg, 15.6 g/kg and 31.2 g/kg body weight. Western blot was utilized to study further possible mechanisms of QSD. Moreover, the HPLC method was used to isolate and identify the components in the extraction of QSD.

Twelve characteristic peaks were recognized in the HPLC spectrum, which all were the known compounds. The QSD exhibited dose-dependent effects in anti-inflammatory and analgesic aspects. Compared with model group, the writhing times of in groups of different doses of QSD (15.6 g/kg and 31.2 g/kg (oral administration = p.o.)) were reduced by 33.0% and 45.8% and indicated the QSD showed significant (p < 0.05) peripheral analgesic effect. QSD ((31.2 g/kg), p.o.) showed significant(p < 0.05) analgesic effect in the hot plate test. Inhibition rates of QSD ((15.6 g/kg and 31.2 g/kg), p.o.) in ear swelling test induced by p-xylene were 27.5% and 54.6% and demonstrated the significant (p < 0.05) anti-inflammatory activity. QSD ((31.2 g/kg), p.o.) significantly (p < 0.05) reduced times of paw licking in formalin test, and its inhibition rates were 34.3% and 28.0% in Phase I and Phase Ⅱ response, respectively. Western blot results showed that QSD inhibited the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) protein and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB).

These results of this study undoubtedly confirmed that QSD expressed obvious analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of QSD may be achieved by regulating the MAPKs protein and further regulating the expression of CREB. In all, QSD may play an anti-inflammatory and analgesic role through a variety of active ingredients.