Pharmacological evaluation of physcion as a TRPV1 inhibitor with multimodal analgesic efficacy in experimental pain models

Abstract Background Pain serves as a vital protective mechanism triggered by tissue damage. While NSAIDs and opioids offer relief, their prolonged usage is hindered by adverse effects. Developing analgesics with fewer side effects is crucial for effective pain treatment. The TRPV1 channel is a key t...

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Main Authors: Hanbin Chen, Guanghong Li, Lin Deng, Shuli Li, Songqiang Huang, Simon Ming-Yuen Lee, Xiaowei Nie, Jin-Song Bian
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:Biological Research
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40659-025-00630-5
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author Hanbin Chen
Guanghong Li
Lin Deng
Shuli Li
Songqiang Huang
Simon Ming-Yuen Lee
Xiaowei Nie
Jin-Song Bian
author_facet Hanbin Chen
Guanghong Li
Lin Deng
Shuli Li
Songqiang Huang
Simon Ming-Yuen Lee
Xiaowei Nie
Jin-Song Bian
author_sort Hanbin Chen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Pain serves as a vital protective mechanism triggered by tissue damage. While NSAIDs and opioids offer relief, their prolonged usage is hindered by adverse effects. Developing analgesics with fewer side effects is crucial for effective pain treatment. The TRPV1 channel is a key target for pain relief, with its inhibitors effectively reducing hyperalgesia in animals. This research utilized virtual screening to identify TRPV1-selective natural compounds for potent analgesic properties. Results The physcion exhibited the notable affinity for TRPV1 compared to the compounds examined. After conducting molecular dynamics simulations, physcion emerged as the compound demonstrating the highest binding affinity towards TRPV1, a finding corroborated by calcium imaging, which validated its inhibitory impact. Furthermore, physcion mitigated the stretch number in the acetic acid-induced stretching model, prolonged the latency period in the hot water tail-flick and hot plate assays, and heightened the pain withdrawal threshold lowered by complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA). Notably, physcion exerted a marked effect in ameliorating bone cancer-induced pain in the hot plate and von Frey tests. Additionally, physcion diminished the levels of inflammatory cytokines and the mRNA expression of both inflammatory and calcium-related genes in the CFA-induced murine model. Furthermore, physcion downregulated the expression of inflammatory genes induced by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in RAW264.7 cells. The underlying mechanism potentially involves the suppression of the NF-κB and MAPK signaling cascades. Conclusions Our investigation underscores the potential of physcion as a promising candidate for analgesic therapy.
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spelling doaj-art-3e9385bb602444bfadde12ab0f88cbcb2025-08-20T04:01:46ZengBMCBiological Research0717-62872025-07-0158112210.1186/s40659-025-00630-5Pharmacological evaluation of physcion as a TRPV1 inhibitor with multimodal analgesic efficacy in experimental pain modelsHanbin Chen0Guanghong Li1Lin Deng2Shuli Li3Songqiang Huang4Simon Ming-Yuen Lee5Xiaowei Nie6Jin-Song Bian7Department of Pharmacology, Joint Laboratory of Guangdong-Hong Kong Universities for Vascular Homeostasis and Diseases, SUSTech Homeostatic Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Pharmacology, Joint Laboratory of Guangdong-Hong Kong Universities for Vascular Homeostasis and Diseases, SUSTech Homeostatic Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Cardiology, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityState Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of MacauSchool of Biomedical Sciences, Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University, Hunan UniversityState Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of MacauDepartment of Human Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Pharmacology, Joint Laboratory of Guangdong-Hong Kong Universities for Vascular Homeostasis and Diseases, SUSTech Homeostatic Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and TechnologyAbstract Background Pain serves as a vital protective mechanism triggered by tissue damage. While NSAIDs and opioids offer relief, their prolonged usage is hindered by adverse effects. Developing analgesics with fewer side effects is crucial for effective pain treatment. The TRPV1 channel is a key target for pain relief, with its inhibitors effectively reducing hyperalgesia in animals. This research utilized virtual screening to identify TRPV1-selective natural compounds for potent analgesic properties. Results The physcion exhibited the notable affinity for TRPV1 compared to the compounds examined. After conducting molecular dynamics simulations, physcion emerged as the compound demonstrating the highest binding affinity towards TRPV1, a finding corroborated by calcium imaging, which validated its inhibitory impact. Furthermore, physcion mitigated the stretch number in the acetic acid-induced stretching model, prolonged the latency period in the hot water tail-flick and hot plate assays, and heightened the pain withdrawal threshold lowered by complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA). Notably, physcion exerted a marked effect in ameliorating bone cancer-induced pain in the hot plate and von Frey tests. Additionally, physcion diminished the levels of inflammatory cytokines and the mRNA expression of both inflammatory and calcium-related genes in the CFA-induced murine model. Furthermore, physcion downregulated the expression of inflammatory genes induced by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in RAW264.7 cells. The underlying mechanism potentially involves the suppression of the NF-κB and MAPK signaling cascades. Conclusions Our investigation underscores the potential of physcion as a promising candidate for analgesic therapy.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40659-025-00630-5PhyscionVirtual screeningMolecular dynamics simulationAanalgesicAnti-inflammation
spellingShingle Hanbin Chen
Guanghong Li
Lin Deng
Shuli Li
Songqiang Huang
Simon Ming-Yuen Lee
Xiaowei Nie
Jin-Song Bian
Pharmacological evaluation of physcion as a TRPV1 inhibitor with multimodal analgesic efficacy in experimental pain models
Biological Research
Physcion
Virtual screening
Molecular dynamics simulation
Aanalgesic
Anti-inflammation
title Pharmacological evaluation of physcion as a TRPV1 inhibitor with multimodal analgesic efficacy in experimental pain models
title_full Pharmacological evaluation of physcion as a TRPV1 inhibitor with multimodal analgesic efficacy in experimental pain models
title_fullStr Pharmacological evaluation of physcion as a TRPV1 inhibitor with multimodal analgesic efficacy in experimental pain models
title_full_unstemmed Pharmacological evaluation of physcion as a TRPV1 inhibitor with multimodal analgesic efficacy in experimental pain models
title_short Pharmacological evaluation of physcion as a TRPV1 inhibitor with multimodal analgesic efficacy in experimental pain models
title_sort pharmacological evaluation of physcion as a trpv1 inhibitor with multimodal analgesic efficacy in experimental pain models
topic Physcion
Virtual screening
Molecular dynamics simulation
Aanalgesic
Anti-inflammation
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40659-025-00630-5
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