Hydroethanolic Stem Bark Extract of Burkea africana Attenuates Vincristine-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Rats.

Yakubu Jibira,Donatus Wewura Adongo,Eric Woode,Isaac Kingsley Amponsah,Wonder Kofi Mensah Abotsi,Eric Boakye-Gyasi

doi:10.1155/2020/7232579

Abstract

Context. The stem bark of the savanna tree Burkea africana (Hook) (family: Leguminosae) is used in the Ghanaian traditional medicine for the management of various pain-related diseases. Objective This study seeks to investigate the possible antiallodynic and antihyperalgesic effects of the hydroethanolic stem bark extract of B. africana in a vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy model in rats. Materials and Methods. 0.1 mg kg−1 vincristine was administered intraperitoneally for 5 days followed by 2 days break and continued for another 5 days to establish peripheral neuropathy in Sprague Dawley rats. Effects of Burkea africana (Hook) (family: Leguminosae) is used in the Ghanaian traditional medicine for the management of various pain-related diseases. p.o.) and pregabalin (10–100 mg kg−1, i.p.) were assessed on tactile, intermediate, mechanical, cold, and hot allodynia as well as in the Randall–Sellito test. Moreover, the levels of total proteins, malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) in sciatic nerve tissue homogenates were assayed. Results BAE (50–1000 mg kg−1p.o.) showed significant antiallodynic and antihyperalgesic effects similar to pregabalin by increasing paw withdrawal latency and paw withdrawal threshold in all the behavioral tests used. Also, the extract decreased the levels of MDA (a lipid peroxidation product) as well as MPO and caused a significant increase in endogenous antioxidants (GSH) and antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT) in tissue homogenates of treated rats. Conclusions Results from this study indicate that the hydroethanolic stem bark extract of B. africana exhibits antiallodynic and antihyperalgesic effects in vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy in rats.B. africana in a vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy model in rats.

Highlights

Neuropathic pain is normally caused by a lesion or pathological alteration of the somatosensory system, including central neurons and Aβ, Aδ, and C neuronal fibers in the periphery [1]
Mechanisms implicated in the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain include differences between excitatory and inhibitory somatosensory signaling, changes in ion channels, and inconsistency in the way that pain messages are modulated in the CNS [1, 3]
All the animals survived throughout the 24 h study period, and from the observations, the mice did not show any signs of a change in behavior and neurological and autonomic toxicity. e oral LD50 of Burkea africana extract (BAE) was estimated to be above 5000 mg kg− 1

Summary

Introduction

Neuropathic pain is normally caused by a lesion or pathological alteration of the somatosensory system, including central neurons and Aβ, Aδ, and C neuronal fibers in the periphery [1]. Mechanisms implicated in the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain include differences between excitatory and inhibitory somatosensory signaling, changes in ion channels, and inconsistency in the way that pain messages are modulated in the CNS [1, 3]. Since neuropathic pain may be partially or completely unresponsive to primary analgesic treatments [4], medical therapies for neuropathic pain tend to involve drugs whose primary indication is not analgesia such as antiepileptic drugs, anti-arrhythmic agents, and antidepressants [5, 6]. Plants have historically proven their value as a source of lead supplements

Methods

Results

Conclusion