Huoxue Shufeng Granule alleviates central sensitization in chronic migraine mice via TLR4/NF-κB inflammatory pathway.
10.12122/j.issn.1673-4254.2025.05.11
- Author:
Xiaotao LIANG
1
;
Yifan XIONG
1
;
Xueqi LIU
2
;
Xiaoshan LIANG
3
;
Xiaoyu ZHU
1
;
Wei XIE
1
Author Information
1. School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University.
2. People's Hospital of Zhuhai High-tech Industrial Development Zone, Zhuhai 519000, Guangdong.
3. Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Huoxue Shufeng Granules;
TLR4/NF-κB;
chronic migraine;
network pharmacology
- MeSH:
Animals;
Toll-Like Receptor 4/metabolism*;
NF-kappa B/metabolism*;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*;
Mice;
Male;
Mice, Inbred C57BL;
Signal Transduction/drug effects*;
Migraine Disorders/metabolism*;
Disease Models, Animal;
Inflammation
- From:
Journal of Southern Medical University
2025;45(5):986-994
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES:To investigate the therapeutic mechanism of Huoxue Shufeng Granules (HXSFG) for alleviating central sensitization in a mouse model of chronic migraine (CM).
METHODS:We analyzed the main chemical components of HXSFG through literature review and explored their pharmacological mechanisms by bioinformatics analyses. In a male C57BL/6J mouse model of CM established by intraperitoneal injections of nitroglycerin (10 mg/kg) every other day (5 injections), the effects of gavage with low, and high doses of HXSFG or intraperitoneal injections of topiramate for ameliorating central sensitization were evaluated using Von Frey test and a hot plate apparatus; the changes in expressions of inflammatory factors, the proteins in the TLR4/NF‑κB signaling pathway, and activation of c-Fos and CGRP were detected using RT-qPCR, Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining.
RESULTS:Network pharmacology analysis suggested that the main active components in HXSFG for alleviating CM included formononetin, paeoniflorin, quercetin, and tanshinone. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis identified 492 GO entries, comprising 366 biological processes, 46 cellular components, and 80 molecular functions. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis indicated that the Toll-like receptor and NF‑κB signaling pathways were crucial in mediating the therapeutic effects of HXSFG on CM. In the mouse models of CM, both topiramate and HXSFG treatments alleviated the symptoms of central sensitization, evidenced by improved mechanical and thermal pain thresholds in the mice. HXSFG significantly reduced the expression of c-Fos and CGRP, improved inflammatory markers, and downregulated the expressions of TLR4, p-NF‑κB, IL-1β, and TNF‑α proteins in the mouse models.
CONCLUSIONS:HXSFG effectively alleviates central sensitization in CM mice by modulating the inflammatory pathways and inhibiting the TLR4/ NF-κB signaling pathway, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic option for CM.
