Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii 之乾燥根也名為草烏，在中國傳統醫學上，廣泛使用在治療風濕性疼痛、中風而引起的痲痺、癰及疔。本研究報告有關其鎮痛及抗發炎活性機轉。本實驗利用醋酸引起的扭體實驗和福馬林舔足反應的小鼠模式。實驗結果顯示，炮製後的草烏成分，能明顯降低中樞及周邊的疼痛且具有劑量依存性。餵予炮製後草烏的實驗組小鼠與對照組小鼠比較，實驗組的小鼠能明顯增加肝臟中麩胱甘肽過氧化酶、麩胱甘肽還原酶及超氧岐化酶活性。此外，實驗組小鼠在鹿角菜膠注射後，顯示丙二醛濃度會降低。總結實驗結果證實，炮製後的草烏成分，能有效的降低中樞及周邊的疼痛及有顯著的抗發炎活性。而草烏的鎮痛及抗發炎的藥理活性，可能是藉由提高肝臟抗氧化酵素來清除自由基所得到的結果。

The dry root of Aconiti kusnezoffii, also named Cao Wu, is widely used as folk medicine in China to treat rheumatic pain, paralysis due to stroke, carbuncle, and furuncle. In the present study we investigated the molecular mechanisms of its analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. Using the acetic acid-induced writhing and formalin test models in mice, our results clearly showed that the constituents of processed Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii can reduce both peripherally and centrally induced pain in a dose-dependent manner. Mice treated with processed Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii has significantly increased levels of glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and superoxide dismutase activities in the liver compared to untreated controls. Furthermore, treated mice exhibited lower levels of malondialdehyde after carrageenan injection compared to untreated controls. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that the ingredients in the processed Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii can effectively reduce pain involving in the peripheral and central nervous systems and exhibit anti-inflammatory activity. The pharmacological analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii may be attributed to the elevation of hepatic anti-oxidative enzymes to eradicate free radicals.