Aim To investigate whether and how Huy- izhenbao tablets regulated osteoarthritis pain.Methods We transected the meniscotibial ligament of mice, which caused osteoarthritis by destabilizing the medial meniscus ( DMM).Different doses of Huyizhenbao tablets (12.5,25,50 mg • kg-1) were administered intragastrically.Dynamic and static mechanical allo- dynia were measured.The spinal cord slices were pre¬pared to record miniature excitatory postsynaptic cur-rents (niEPSCs) and miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mlPSCs) by using patch clamp electrophysi¬ological recordings.The phosphorylation of NMDA re¬ceptor ( N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors) (rluNl sub- unit at S897 residue ( pS897-GluNl ) was observed by immunohistochemistry.Results Huyizhenbao tablets dose-dependently attenuated the dynamic and static mechanical allodynia induced by DMM, reduced the frequency of niEPSCs and inhibited the pS897-GluNI level.Huyizhenbao tablets had no effects on mlPSCs.Conclusions Huyizhenbao tablets effectively alleviate osteoarthritis pain by blocking the presynaptic release of excitatory transmitter glutamate and inhibiting the phosphorylation of NMDA receptor in spinal cord dorsal horn.