The effects of Elgucare in a rat model of intervertebral disc degeneration

As an avascular tissue, the intervertebral disc (IVD) faces difficulties in obtaining nutrients and is prone to accumulating metabolic waste. The ensuing IVD degeneration (IVDD) causes symptoms such as low back pain. Traditional Chinese medicine has a millennia-long history of treating IVDD, with the advantages of safety and few adverse effects. Based on prior pharmacological research, the Chinese herbal formula Elgucare is abundant in the nutrients required by the IVD and can improve blood circulation, accelerating the removal of metabolic waste from the IVD. This study used a 23 G needle to surgically induce IVDD in a rat model. Thirty rats were randomly assigned to five groups: one that underwent sham surgery (Sham), one with IVDD that was not fed Elgucare (EGC-0), and three with IVDD that were fed Elgucare at different concentrations for six weeks (EGC-L, EGC-M, and EGC-H). Study parameters, including total body weight, plantar sensitivity to pain, gait analysis, IVD thickness, and IVD morphology, were used to assess the effects of Elgucare on IVDs. Our results showed that administering Elgucare to rats effectively reduced plantar tingling and improved swing speed during gait analysis. Elgucare also accelerated increases in IVD thickness and increased the proportion of IVD that returned to normal cellularity. The possible benefits of Elgucare include alleviating pain, improving mobility, and accelerating IVD repair, indicating its potential for use in IVD therapy.