• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.238-244
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• 2019

Background: This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim pharmacopuncture on disuse muscle atrophy in the gastrocnemius muscle of rats. Methods: Thirty male 250 g Sprague-Dawley rats were distributed randomly into 3 groups. The left hindlimb immobilization was performed with casting tape for 2 weeks, and no treatment was given to the right hindlimb. Rats received pharmacopuncture and were injected daily on the BL57 with either 2 mL of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim aqueous extract (ZM-W group), 1 mL pharmacopuncture of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim ethanol extract (ZM-E group), or 2 mL normal saline (control group). After 2 weeks of immobilization, the weight of the whole gastrocnemius muscle was measured, and the morphology of both the left and the right gastrocnemius muscles were assessed by Hematoxylin and Eosin staining. To investigate the immobilization-induced muscular apoptosis, the immunohistochemical analysis of BAX and Bcl-2 was carried out. Results: ZM-W and ZM-E significantly inhibited the reduction in weight of the left gastrocnemius muscle, the reduction in the left myofibrils, and the cross-sectional area of gastrocnemius, as compared with the control. Moreover, the ZM-W and ZM-E groups showed significantly reduced immunoreactivity for BAX, and increased immunoreactivity of Bcl-2 in left gastrocnemius muscle compared with the control group. Conclusion: These results suggest that Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim pharmacopuncture has protective effects against immobilization-induced muscle atrophy by regulating the activity of apoptosis-associated BAX / Bcl-2 proteins in the gastrocnemius muscle.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.61-74
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• 2017

Objectives : This study was carried out to evaluate analgesic effects of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim (ZM) pharmacopuncture on formalin-induced pains in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and ICR-mice. Methods : The subjects were divided 8 weeks aged rats with constant pain sensitivity into five groups; normal (treated with normal saline at Taegye (KI3) and before injected with normal saline at hindpaw), Con-1 (treated with normal saline at KI3 before injected with formalin at hindpaw), Lido-1 (treated with lidocaine at KI3), ZMWG-1 (treated with Hot water extraction pharmacopuncture of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim at KI3), ZMEG-1 (treated with ethanol extraction pharmacopuncture of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim at KI3). After 35 minutes, we measured ultrasonic vocalization (USV) and enzyme activities of both Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in rat serum. In addition, Tail flick test is performed by injecting ICR mice at 5 weeks of age. And it classified into 4 groups (Con-2, Lido-2, ZMWG-2, ZMEG-2) according to the kind of drug (normal saline, lidocaine, ZMW, ZME). After each drug injection, we examined the reaction by placing the tail in water at $50^{\circ}C$. Results : ZME had analgesic effects in the early and late phase of USV during the formalin test. There were no significant differences between ZMEG-1 and Lido-1 in early and late phase of USV. Also, No significant differences observed in serum AST and ALT activity in ZMWG-1 and ZMEG-1 compared with Con-1. For tail-flick test, analgesic effect on warmth significantly increased in Lido-2 and ZMEG-2 compare to that of Con-2. Conclusion : ZME pharmacopuncture had analgesic effects on formalin-induced pain without liver toxicity. Also, tail-flick test suggest that ZME pharmacopuncture could be useful technique on analgesic effect on warmth and treatment of pains.