Influence of Dachuanxiong Gelata on Nitric Oxide (NO), Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS) and Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) in Plasma of Rat Having a Headache
Authors: Jin Hui , Du Yan Wei , Lv Xue Jiao , Liu Xiao Yang , Chen Jia Jun 
Published: November 2014

Purpose：To study the influence of Dachuanxiong gelata on the nitric oxide, nitric oxide synthase and calcitonin gene-related peptide in plasma of rat that has a headache. Methods: Make the migraine rat models through the subcutaneous injection of nitroglycerin and divide the experiment into blank control group, migraine model group, experimental drug group and positive drug group. The Dachuanxiong gelata should be given through intragastric administration at 20 times (high), 10 times (middle) and 5 times (low) of 60 kg adult clinical dosage (30 g crude drug/60kg), respectively 11.67, 5.83 and 2.92g crude drug/ kg#d; the distilled water with the same volume should be given to the rats in the model group and normal group through intragastric administration and that of 2mg should be given to rats in the ergotamine and caffeine group through intragastric administration. The kit should be used to detect the contents of NO, NOS and CGRP in the rat plasma. Results：The content of NO in plasma of model group rises and it has significant difference (P<0.01) when compared with the normal saline group; the content of NO in plasma of gelata group and positive drug group reduces and it has significant difference (P<0.01) when compared with the model group four hours later. When comparing the normal group and nitroglycerin migraine model group, the receptor expressions of NOS and CGRP of the trigeminal nerve nuclei of the rats in migraine model increase obviously from the angle of the total area of positive cells; the high dose group of Dachuanxing prescription can obviously reduce the NOS and CGRP expressions of trigeminal nerve nuclei, the middle dose group can obviously reduce the NOS and CGRP expressions and the low dose group has no obvious effect on the receptor expressions of substances and shows good dose dependence. Compared with normal saline group, it has no difference. Conclusions：Dachuanxiong gelata can reduce the content of NO in rat plasma and the expressions of NOS and CGRP so as to cure migraine. Dachuanxing prescription, originated from An Elucidation of Formulas of Liu Wansu in Jin Dynasty, is composed of ligusticum chuanxiong and gastrodia elata; it can active blood and disperse stagnation, suppress hyperactive liver for calming endogenous wind and activate meridians to stop pain; it is mainly used to cure migraine clinically and is a classical Chinese herbal medicine compound preparation. [1]In this study, the optimum extraction process of nasal mucosa gelata for curing headache is selected and further in-depth study is done on the physicochemical properties and pharmacological effects of prescription drug. The gelata has good curative effect on headache with small side effect and few allergies after clinical trials for many years. The ligusticum Chuanxiong is the rhizome of umbelliferae ligusticum Chuanxiong that can promote qi to activate blood and dispel wind and relieve pain; its index and active ingredient is mainly ferulic acid. The gastrodia elata is the dry tuber of gastrodia elata BL with the major active ingredients of gastrodin, p-Hydroxybenzylalcohol, parahydroxybenzaldehyde, vanillyl alcohol and other phenolic compounds. The traditional Chinese medicine believes that the gastrodia elata, which is sweet, mild-natured and that can enter into liver meridian, can calm the frightened and tranquilize, and it can be used to cure light-headedness, headache, numbness of the limbs, insomnia, infantile convulsion and grand mal. Dachuanxiong gelata used in this experiment is made by the research group.