AUTHOR=Kim Won Kyung , Shin Joon-Shik , Lee Jinho , Koh Wonil , Ha In-Hyuk , Park Hyen Joo , Lee Sang Kook , Hong Jin Young 

TITLE=Effects of the administration of Shinbaro 2 in a rat lumbar disk herniation model

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=Volume 14 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2023.1044724

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2023.1044724

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=The current standard for the pharmacological management of lumbar disc herniation (LDH), involving non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, and opioid analgesics, often carries a risk of adverse events. The search for alternative therapeutic options remains a vital objective given the high prevalence of LDH and the critical impact on quality of life. Shinbaro2 is a clinically effective herbal acupuncture against inflammation and various musculoskeletal disorders. Therefore, we explored whether shinbaro2 exerts protective effects in an LDH rat model. The results showed that shinbaro2 suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin 1-beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and disc degeneration-related factors, matrix metalloproteinase-1, -3, -9, and ADAMTS-5, in LDH rats. Shinbaro2 administration reinstated behavioral activity to a normal level in windmill test. The results indicated that shinbaro2 administration restored spinal cord morphology and function in the LDH model. Therefore, shinbaro2 exerted a protective effect in LDH via actions on inflammatory responses and disc degeneration, indicating that future research is warranted to assess the action mechanisms further and validate its effects.