No abstract

In our previous study, the remarkable analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of the combination of sodium ferulate (SF) and oxymatrine (OMT) had been found. In this study, we investigated the effect of the combination of SF and OMT on acute lung injury using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) mouse model. The cell counting and the protein concentration in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured. The animal lung edema degree was evaluated by wet/dry weight (W/D) ratio. The superoxidase dismutase (SOD) activity and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity was assayed by SOD and MPO kits, respectively. The levels of inflammatory mediators including C-reactive protein (CRP) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. The data showed that treatment with the combination of SF and OMT markedly attenuated inflammatory cell numbers and protein concentration in the BALF and improved SOD activity and inhibited MPO activity compared to LPS group. Moreover, the combination significantly inhibited the production of CRP and TNF-α in lung homogenate. The histological changes of the lungs were also more significantly improved by the combination. At the same dose, the obvious protective effect was not found in SF or OMT-treated alone group except that the protein concentration slightly decreased in SF group. The results indicated that the combination SF and OMT had a protective effect on LPS-induced ALI in mice, and the effect was much better than that of SF or OMT used alone.

In order to observe antinociceptive effect of Oxymatrine (OMT) and its effect on voltage-activated K(+) channel, the acetic acid-induced abdominal contraction model of mouse was used to test the antinociceptive effect in vivo, and in vitro, the delayed rectifier K(+) currents (Ik) in PC12 cells (rat pheochromocytoma cells) was recorded using the automated patch-clamp method. The results indicated that after application of OMT, the number of acetic acid-induced animal abdominal contraction was significantly decreased, Ik in PC12 cells was significantly decreased, and showed a concentration-dependent manner. After application of OMT, both the activation and inactivation curves of Ik of PC12 cells were shifted to negative potentials. This study revealed that OMT showed antinociceptive effect in mice. The inhibition of voltage-activated K(+) channel might be one of mechanisms in which the enhanced both activation and inactivation of K(+) channel were involved and might play important roles.