Maerua angolensis Extract Reduces Allodynia and Hyperalgesia in a Mouse Model of Vincristine-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

Hosea Iliya,Eric Woode,Wonder Abotsi,Charles Benneh

doi:10.7324/japs.2016.60519

Abstract

Allodynia and hyperalgesia comprise the main and frequent symptoms suffered by patients with neuropathic pain, which responds poorly to therapy. An earlier study reported that stem bark extracts of Maerua angolensis exhibited dose-dependent anti-nociceptive effect against the neurogenic and inflammatory phases of the formalin test. The current study evaluated the effect of petroleum ether/ethyl acetate stem bark extract of Maerua angolensis on vincristine-induced neuropathy. Neuropathic pain was induced by intraperitoneal injection of vincristine (0.1 mg/kg/day) using a 5-day-on, 2-day-off schedule over 12 days. On day 15, baseline responses were measured in the Randall-Selitto mechanical hyperalgesia test and paw withdrawal tests (using Von Frey filaments and cold water at 4.5 °C) and mice that developed allodynia/hyperalgesia were randomly assigned into 7 groups. Normal saline (i.p.), pregabalin (10, 30, and 100 mg/kg, p.o.) and extract (3, 10, and 20 mg/kg, p.o.) were administered to the individual groups. Allodynia/hyperalgesia was measured hourly for 5 hours post treatment. The extract produced significant (P

Highlights

Neuropathic pain is a common problem that presents a major challenge to health-care providers owing to its complex natural history, uncertain aetiology and poor response towards therapy (Quintans et al, 2014)
The current study evaluated the effect of petroleum ether/ethyl acetate stem bark extract of Maerua angolensis on vincristine-induced neuropathy
As a followup to confirm that assertion, the current study investigated the antinociceptive effect of the petroleum ether/ethyl acetate stem bark extract of Maerua angolensis in the vincristine-induced neuropathic pain model

Summary

Introduction

Neuropathic pain is a common problem that presents a major challenge to health-care providers owing to its complex natural history, uncertain aetiology and poor response towards therapy (Quintans et al, 2014). It is a chronic pain condition that arises from a disease or injury to the central nervous system (CNS) or the peripheral nervous system (PNS) leading to its damage or abnormal function. Common symptoms of neuropathic pain include sensory abnormalities such as burning sensations, hyperalgesia, allodynia, hyperesthesia and dysesthesia (Schim, 2009). The current analgesics are unable to treat cancer chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain which is severe enough for patients to discontinue their cancer chemotherapy treatment and worsens the quality of their life (Lynch et al, 2005; Wolf et al, 2008; Park et al, 2012). The search for new chemical entities that can act as promising molecules to treat chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain has emerged. Medicinal plants are potential sources of commercial drugs and lead compounds in drug development (Zhang, 2004) forming important sources of new chemical substances with potential therapeutic effects (Ebadi, 2007). Maerua angolensis DC (Family: Capparidaceae) is a medicinal plant used traditionally to relieve pain (Mothana et al, 2009; Meda et al, 2013)

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Conclusion