OBJECTIVETo provide a theoretical basis for the further development of new drugs, the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects and the liver function in mice of anthocyanin from Ligustrum vicaryi were investigated.

METHODSThe 240 experimental mice were splitted equally for 6 kinds of experiments and 40 rats in each kind of experiment were divided into 5 groups (n = 8): normal saline control group (NS); aspirin control group (Asp); high-concentration anthocyanin group (HA); medium-concentration anthocyanin group (MA); low-concentratior anthocyanin group (LA). The analgesia effect of anthocyanin at different concentration was detenmined by hot-plate test and acetic acid writhin test, and the anti-inflammatory effect of anthocyanin was performed by ear edema, ahdomen capillary permeability and cotton granuloma. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and the contents of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in blood serum were determined, and the activities of SOD, T-AOC and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in liver were measured, while the histological changes of liver tissue were observed.

RESULTSThe pain threshold of mice was enhanced and the times of twist body wa decreased by medium-concentration and high-concentration anthocyanin. The activity of SOD was increased and the conentrs of NO and PGE were reduced in blood serum. High-concentration anthocyanin inhibited the ear swelling , the increase of celiac capillary permeability and th granuloma hyperplasia, and increased the activities of SOD and T-AOC while decreased the content of PGE2. The activities of SOD, T-AOC. GSH-PX were increased in liver, but the morphology of liver tissues in each group had no significant changes.

CONCLUSIONAnthocyanin Ligustrum vicaryi has definite anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, which is related to increasing the antioxidant capacity and decreasing th contents of NO and PGE2, and has not obvious damage to liver in the range of experimental concentration.