Ameliorative potential of ferulic acid in vincristine-induced painful neuropathy in rats: An evidence of behavioral and biochemical examination

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The present study was designed to investigate the effect of ferulic acid (FA) in vincristine-induced neuropathic pain in rats. Vincristine (50 µg/kg, i.p. for 10 consecutive days) was administered to induce painful neuropathy in rats. Various pain sensitive tests, viz., pinprick, hot plate, paint-brush, and acetone test were performed on different days (1, 6, 14, and 21) to assess the degree of mechanical hyperalgesia, heat hyperalgesia, mechanical dynamic allodynia, and cold allodynia, respectively. The electrophysiological and histopathological evaluations were also investigated. The tissue thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS), reduced glutathione (GSH), myeloperoxidase (MPO), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and total calcium were measured as the markers of inflammation and oxidative stress. FA (50 and 100 mg/kg, i.p.) and gabapentin (10 mg/kg, p.o.) were administered for 11 days. Administration of FA attenuated the vincristine-induced behavioral alteration along with electrophysiological and histopathological changes significantly (P < 0.05). FA also attenuated the vincristine-induced oxidative stress (TBARS, GSH, and total calcium levels) and inflammation (MPO, TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-10). It may be concluded that FA has ameliorative potential in mitigation of the painful states associated with vincristine-induced painful neuropathy that may further be attributed to anti-inflammatory actions with subsequent reduction in oxidative stress.