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Effect of Nuangong zhitong decoction on primary dysmenorrhea in mice
Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the therapeutic effect of Nuangong Zhitong decoction (NZD) on primary dysmenorrhea (PD) in mice, and its mechanism of action.
Methods: Dysmenorrhea was established in female PD mice by intraperitoneal injection of oxytocin following estradiol benzoate pretreatment. The effects of NZD and its active principles (cinnamic aldehyde and cinnamic acid) on PD were determined using body twist method. Serum levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2α) in mice were measured using ELISA.
Results: The results showed that NZD dose-dependently reduced oxytocin-induced writhing responses (p < 0.05). Moreover, cinnamic aldehyde and cinnamic acid reduced oxytocin-induced writhing responses in a concentration-dependent manner, with maximal inhibitions of 65.01 and 70.67 %, respectively, and also decreased serum levels of PGE2 and PGF2α in PD mice (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: These results indicate that NZD mitigates oxytocin-induced uterine tetanic contraction in mice. Thus, NZD has a potential for development into an anti-dysmenorrheal drug for use in humans.