Aitongxiao improves pain symptoms of rats with cancer pain by reducing IL-1, TNF-α, and PGE2.

Objective To explore the mechanism of Aitongxiao in improving pain symptoms of rats with cancer pain. Methods Walker 256 breast cancer cells were injected into the right tibial bone marrow cavity of normal female rats to establish a rat model of tibial cancer pain. The rats with successful model replication were randomly divided into normal group (NG), Hank solution group (HSG), cancer pain model group (CPMG), and Aitongxiao+cancer pain model group (ATX+CPMG). The pain response score, mechanical pain hindpaw withdrawal threshold, and latent heat pain of rats were evaluated, and the changes of serum IL-1β, TNF-α, PGE2 and blood cell counts of rats were detected. Results Compared with the NG, the pain response score was increased, the mechanical pain hindpaw withdrawal threshold and latent heat pain were decreased, and IL-1β, TNF-α, and PGE2 were increased in CPMG. Compared with the CPMG, the pain response score was decreased, the mechanical pain hindpaw withdrawal threshold and latent heat pain were increased, and IL-1β, TNF-α, and PGE2 were decreased in ATX+CPMG. There was no significant change in blood cell count in each group. Conclusion Aitongxiao can improve the pain symptoms of rats with tibial cancer pain. Its mechanism may be related to the reduction of IL-1β, TNF-α, and PGE2 levels.