Therapeutic Effects of Marasmius androsaceus Ethanolic Extract on Discogenic Low Back Pain under Mediation of VEGF/VEGFR2 Signaling Pathway

Background and Objective: Marasmius androsaceus, a common traditional Chinese fungus, has been extensively employed in the preparation of analgesic medications like Anluo Tong for various neuralgia and rheumatoid arthritis treatments. This research studied the Therapeutic Effects of Marasmius androsaceus Ethanolic Extract on Discogenic Low Back Pain Under the Mediation of VEGF/VEGFR2 Signaling Pathway. Materials and Methods: Active constituents were extracted from Marasmius androsaceus fungi. Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were chosen as experimental subjects. A DLBP rat model was created using X-ray-guided puncture. Rats were intervened with 250, 500 and 1,000 mg/kg of MAEE (hereinafter referred to L-MAEE, M-MAEE and H-MAEE groups, respectively). Behavioral characteristics, mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT), thermal withdrawal latency (TWL), VEGF/VEGFR2 expression and extracellular Regulated Protein Kinases (ERK)/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) protein expression were analyzed. Results: In contrast to the DLBP group, L-MAEE, M-MAEE and H-MAEE groups demonstrated reduced gait scores, prolonged hot plate retention time, tail-flick duration and tail-bending duration, showing obvious differences (p<0.05). The VEGF and VEGFR2 in IDS cells decreased greatly (p<0.05), as did the p-ERK, p-JNK and p-p38 MAPK (p<0.05). These effects demonstrated a dose-dependent pattern. Conclusion: The MAEE exhibited a dose-dependent alleviation of mechanical hypersensitivity and thermal hyperalgesia in the DLBP animal model. It also ameliorated behavioral changes caused by pain, likely through inhibition of VEGF/VEGFR2 signaling pathway (SPW) and reduction of ERK/JNK/MAPK phosphorylation.