Antinociceptive effects of systemic tanshinone IIA on visceral and somatic persistent nociception and pain hypersensitivity in rats.

Previous studies showed that tanshinone IIA (TIIA), an important lipophilic component of Danshen, has been well-established to exhibit various neuroprotective actions in the nervous system. Although we previously reported that TIIA had a significant anti-nociceptive effect in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced pain, it is surprisingly noted that few pharmacological studies have been carried out to explore the possible analgesic action of TIIA in animals and the appropriate indications for treatment of clinical pain remain unclear. Therefore, in the present study, by using both somatic and visceral pain models, the antinociceptive and antihyperalgesic effects of TIIA were evaluated by intraperitoneal administration in rats.

Obestatin and cardiovascular health.

Obestatin, encoded by the same gene as ghrelin, was first described as a physiological opponent of ghrelin through an interaction with the orphan receptor GPR39. However, the effects of obestatin were not totally contrary to the effects of ghrelin in cardiovascular regulations based on the recent studies. We summarize here the current evidences surrounding the cardiovascular actions of obestatin, and the possible implications of obestatin as a therapeutic agent in common conditions such as hypertension and heart failure.