[Isolation and pharmacological properties of analgesic fraction from venom of Naja Naja atra].

OBJECTIVE: To separate main analgesic fraction from venom of Guangdong Naja naja atra, to establish the basis for the using of Naja naja atra and find new analgesic fraction. METHODS: Affinity chromatography and size exclusion were used to isolate the analgesic fraction from the venom of Naja naja atra, and then to determine its properties by biochemical methods, such as SDS-polyacryamide gel electrophoresis ( SDS-PAGE), HPLC and Mole-toff. RESULTS: HPLC showed its relative purity was 95% (HPLC)and Mw was 6741. 236 Da. We observed that peripheral administration of neurotoxin strongly reduced the mechanical allogynia and thermal hyperalgesia for 24 hours, associated with this neuropathy (L5 spinal nerve ligation). CONCLUSION: The fraction from venom of Naja naja atra has significant analgesic effect and it is worth further developing.

Necrostatin-1 Ameliorates Peripheral Nerve Injury-Induced Neuropathic Pain by Inhibiting the RIP1/RIP3 Pathway.

Necrostatin-1 is an inhibitor of necroptosis, a form of programmed cell death that has been reported to be involved in various neurological diseases. Presently, the role of necroptosis in neuropathic pain induced by peripheral nerve injury is still unclear. This study was focused on investigating the potential effects of necroptosis in the development and progression of neuropathic pain in a rat model and the possible neuroprotective effects of necrostatin-1 in neuropathic pain. The results indicated that the necroptosis-related proteins RIP1 and RIP3 significantly increased postoperation in the spinal cord in a neuropathic pain model and peaked 7 days postoperation, which was consistent with the time-dependent changes of hyperalgesia. Additionally, we found that peripheral nerve injury-related behavioral and biochemical changes were significantly reduced by necrostatin-1. In particular, hyperalgesia was attenuated, and the levels of RIP1 and RIP3 were decreased. Furthermore, the ultrastructure of necrotic cell death and neuroinflammation were alleviated by necrostatin-1. Collectively, these results suggest that necroptosis is an important mechanism of cell death in neuropathic pain induced by peripheral nerve injury and that necrostatin-1 may be a promising neuroprotective treatment for neuropathic pain.

Purification and characterization of a novel antinociceptive toxin from Cobra venom (Naja naja atra).

Snake venoms have demonstrated antinociceptive activity, and certain isolated neurotoxins have demonstrated significant analgesia in animal models. Here we report a novel analgesic toxin which was isolated from Naja naja atra and was given the name 'najanalgesin'. The LD(50) of the crude venom and najanalgesin were 0.89mg/kg and 2.69mg/kg, respectively. We used the writhing test and hot plate test to evaluate the antinociceptive properties of the crude venom and najanalgesin after intraperitoneal (ip) administration. The analgesic mechanism of najanalgesin was also studied. The response latency time was significantly prolonged in the hot plate test after ip administration of the crude venom of Naja naja atra (0.111-0.445mg/kg) in a dose-dependent manner. Najanalgesin (1mg/kg) elicited almost the same antinociceptive effect as that of the crude venom of Naja naja atra at the dose of 0.445mg/kg and remained for 6h after intraperitoneal injection, shown by hot plate test. The percentage of increase in the latency time for the venom and the najanalgesin 3h after drug administration was 96.2% and 112%, respectively. The number of writhes decreased to almost 1/3, 1/6, and 1/12 of the NS (physiological saline) group after intraperitoneal administration of najanalgesin at 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0mg/kg, respectively. Pretreatment with atropine (1mg/kg) or naloxone (3mg/kg) blocked the antinociception of najanalgesin in the hot plate test. Based on the sequence information, najanalgesin is found to be highly homologous with the conventional CTXs (cardiotoxins). To our knowledge, no study had previously reported that a toxin which was homologous with CTXs possessed the antinociceptive activity. Thus, this is the first report that the antinociceptive effect induced by najanalgesin is mediated by cholinergic and opioidergic mechanisms.

Antinociceptive Effect of Najanalgesin from Naja Naja Atra in a Neuropathic Pain Model via Inhibition of c-Jun NH2-terminal Kinase.

BACKGROUND: Najanalgesin, a toxin isolated from the venom of Naja naja atra, has been shown to exert significant analgesic effects in a neuropathic pain model in rats. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this protective effect of najanalgesin is poorly understood. The present study sought to evaluate the intracellular signaling pathways that are involved in the antinociceptive effect of najanalgesin on neuropathic pain. METHODS: The antinociceptive properties of najanalgesin were tested in hind paw withdrawal thresholds in response to mechanical stimulation. We analyzed the participation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase p38, extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) by western blot analysis. This inhibition of JNK was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The phosphorylation levels of JNK (as well as its downstream molecule c-Jun), p38, and ERK were significantly increased after injury. Najanalgesin only inhibited JNK and c-Jun phosphorylation but had no effect on either ERK or p38. This inhibition of JNK was confirmed by immunohistochemistry, which suggested that the antinociceptive effect of najanalgesin on spinal nerve ligation-induced neuropathic pain in rats is associated with JNK activation in the spinal cord. CONCLUSION: The antinociceptive effect of najanalgesin functions by inhibiting the JNK in a neuropathic pain model.

Peripheral and spinal antihyperalgesic activity of najanalgesin isolated from Naja naja atra in a rat experimental model of neuropathic pain.

Snake venoms are a rich source of various compounds that have applications in medicine and biochemistry. Recently, it has been demonstrated that najanalgesin isolated from the venom of Naja naja atra exerts analgesic effects on acute pain in mice. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antinociceptive effect of najanalgesin in a rat model of neuropathic pain, induced by L5 spinal nerve ligation and transaction. We observed that intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of najanalgesin produced significant increase in hind paw withdrawal latency (HWL) in response to both mechanical and thermal stimulation. Moreover, a single dose of najanalgesin was able to induce antinociceptive activity that lasted for 1 week. Intrathecal injection of najanalgesin increased the HWL in response to mechanical stimuli. The antinociceptive effect of najanalgesin administered intrathecally was partly inhibited by intrathecal injection of naloxone or atropine. These results demonstrate that najanalgesin has antinociceptive effects on the central and peripheral system in the rat neuropathic pain model. The opioid receptor and muscatinic receptor are involved in najanalgesin-induced antinociception in the spinal cord. This research supports the possibility of using najanalgesin as a novel pharmacotherapeutic agent for neuropathic pain.