Journal
NUTRIENTS
Volume 15, Issue 7, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/nu15071559
Keywords
TNF alpha; mechanical sensitivity; aversion; conditioning place preference; colorectal distension
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
This study investigated the potential of the herbal medicine OJS to alleviate pain in inflammatory bowel disease. The results showed that OJS can reduce mechanical nociception and aversion to colorectal distension without producing rewarding effects. The analgesic effects of OJS are independent of macrophage tumor necrosis factor alpha levels and disease progression.
(1) Background: Gastrointestinal pain and fatigue are the most reported concerns of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Commonly prescribed drugs focus on decreasing excessive inflammation. However, up to 20% of IBD patients in an inactive state experience abdominal pain. The medicinal herb Ojeok-san (OJS) has shown promise in the amelioration of visceral pain. However, no research on OJS has been conducted in preclinical models of IBD. The mechanism by which OJS promotes analgesia is still elusive, and it is unclear if OJS possesses addictive properties. (2) Aims: In this study, we examined the potential of OJS to promote analgesic effects and rewarding behavior. Additionally, we investigated if tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFa) from macrophages is a primary culprit of IBD-induced nociception. (3) Methods: Multiple animal models of IBD were used to determine if OJS can reduce visceral nociception. TNFa-macrophage deficient mice were used to investigate the mechanism of action by which OJS reduces nociceptive behavior. Mechanical sensitivity and operant conditioning tests were used to determine the analgesic and rewarding effects of OJS. Body weight, colon length/weight, blood in stool, colonic inflammation, and complete blood count were assessed to determine disease progression. (4) Results: OJS reduced the evoked mechanical nociception in the dextran sulphate sodium model of colitis and IL-10 knockout (KO) mice and delayed aversion to colorectal distension in C57BL/6 mice. No rewarding behavior was observed in OJS-treated IL-10 KO and mdr1a KO mice. The analgesic effects of OJS are independent of macrophage TNFa levels and IBD progression. (5) Conclusions: OJS ameliorated elicited mechanical and visceral nociception without producing rewarding effects. The analgesic effects of OJS are not mediated by macrophage TNFa.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available