Effects of Ginkgo Biloba Extract EGb-761 on Neuropathic Pain in Mice: Involvement of Opioid System.

Neuropathic pain is considered as one of the most difficult types of pain to manage with conventional analgesics. EGb-761 is extracted from leaves of Ginkgo biloba and has analgesia and anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to examine the effect of EGb-761 on chronic constriction injury (CCI)-induced neuropathic pain behaviors, including thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia, and to explore the possible mechanisms underlying this action. To this end, CCI mice were intraperitoneally injected with EGb-761 (10, 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg), and thermal hyperalgesia, mechanical allodynia, cytokines, and mu-opioid receptor expression were measured. Results showed that EGb-761 attenuated thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia dose-dependently and the best delivery time window was from day 7 to day 14 after CCI. Additionally, EGb-761 treatment significantly decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines and enhanced mu opioid receptor (MOR) expression in the sciatic nerve. Moreover, the opioid antagonist naloxone prevented the effect of EGb-761 on thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia but did not influence the effect of EGb-761 on inflammatory cytokines. In conclusion, this study suggests that the potential of EGb-761 as a new analgesic for neuropathic pain treatment, and opioid system may be involved in the EGb-761-induced attenuation of thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

[Effects of Yunnan Baiyao on peri-operative bleeding of patients undergoing cervical open-door laminoplasty: a multi-center randomized double-blind placebo-control trial].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Yunnan Baiyao on peri-operative bleeding of the patients undergoing cervical open-door laminoplasty. METHODS: 197 patients undergoing cervical open-door laminoplasty were randomly divided into 2 groups Yunnan Baiyao group (receiving Yunnan Baiyao 500 mg three times daily for 5 days) and placebo group. The amounts of intra-operative and post-operative bleeding were compared, and the side effect of Yunnan Baiyao was also analyzed. RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed that the amount of intra-operative bleeding of the Yunnan Baiyao was 350 ml +/- 190 ml, significantly lower than that of the placebo group (443 ml +/- 266 ml, P < 0.05). There were no statistical differences in the amount of postoperative bleeding and side effect rate between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Yunnan Baiyao is effective and safe in reducing the amount of intra-operative bleeding of cervical open-door laminoplasty.