[Application of three artemisinin derivatives in neuropathic pain: evaluating co-curation of nociceptive and emotional syndromes in spinal cord ligation mice].

In this study, on aspects of the nociceptive, anxiety and depressive syndromes in neuropathic pain (NP), the effects of dihydroartemisinine (DHA), artesunate (ART) and artemether (ARTN) (40 mg·kg⁻¹) were analyzed in the spinal cord ligation (SNL) mice. Clinical equivalent dose of the first-line drug for NP, pregabalin (PGB, 25 mg·kg⁻¹) and amitriptyline (ARP, 20 mg·kg⁻¹), were used as positive controls. General, from day 7 to 14, significant remissions of the nociceptive, anxiety and depressive behaviors were achieved by DHA, ART and ARTN separately.

The Chinese Medicine Wu-Tou Decoction Relieves Neuropathic Pain by Inhibiting Hippocampal Microglia Activation.

The comorbidity between the nociceptive and mental syndromes adds to the refractoriness of neuropathic pain (NP). Wu-Tou decoction (WTD) has been prescribed for chronic pain for thousands of years in China. Recently, we reported that WTD was helpful for hippocampus and co-curative for the nociceptive, depressive and anxiety behaviors in the spinal cord ligation (SNL) mice.

Wu-tou decoction attenuates neuropathic pain via suppressing spinal astrocytic IL-1R1/TRAF6/JNK signaling.

Neuropathic pain (NP) caused by nerve injuries continues to be an intractable challenge due to inadequate therapeutic strategies. Recent study demonstrated glia-induced neuro-inflammation in the spinal cord, especially the activation of astrocytes, plays an essential role in the development of NP, which opens new avenues for NP treatment. In this study, we explored the anti-hyperalgesia properties of Wu-tou decoction (WTD) and showed that WTD potently attenuates mechanical allodynia and heat hyperalgesia in lumbar 5 (L5) spinal nerve ligation (SNL)-induced NP without noticeable side effect or affecting basal pain perception of mice.

Evidence that CA3 is Underling the Comorbidity Between Pain and Depression and the Co-curation by Wu-Tou decoction in Neuropathic Pain.

In neuropathic pain (NP), the atrophy of hippocampus contributes to the comorbidity between pain, depression and the cognitive deficits. However, the exact mechanism underling the comorbidity, the effective control of the degenerations in hippocampus and the remission of the accompanied depressive symptoms are still lacking. Wu-Tou decoction (WTD) has been prescribed for inflammatory pain for thousands of years.