Effect of Essential Oil of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort on the Expressions of COX-2 in Hypothalamus of Fever Rat

Objective To investigate the antipyretic mechanism of essential oil of ligusticum chuanxiong Hort(CH).Methods Expressions of COX-2 protein and mRNA in hypothalamus of brewer's yeast-induced fever rats were checked using IHC and RT-PCR.Results Expressions of COX-2 protein and mRNA in hypothalamus of model group were higher than normal group,high and middle doses of CH could significantl decrease the expressions as compared with model group,but low dose of CH had no obvious effect.Conclusion One of the antipyretic mechanism of essential oil of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort.(CH) may be inhibit the expression of COX-2 protein and mRNA in hypothalamus of rats,thereby reduce the content of PGE2 that lowers the set point and produces antipyretic effect.