Abstract:
ackground: The hydro-ethanolic extract of Synedrella
nodiflora (L.) Gaertn whole plant has demonstrated anal-
gesic effects in acute pain models. The extract has also
demonstrated anticonvulsant effects in murine models
of experimental epilepsy. The present study illustrates
an evaluation of the hydro-ethanolic extract of the plant
for possible analgesic properties in hyperalgesia and allo-
dynia associated with vincristine-induced neuropathy in
rats.
Method: Neuropathic pain was induced in Sprague-Daw-
ley rats by injecting 100 μg/kg of vincristine sulphate on
alternative days for 6 days (days 0, 2, 4, 8, 10 and 12). Vin-
cristine-induced cold allodynia, mechanical hyperalgesia
and thermal hyperalgesia were measured pre-vincristine
administration and on days 15, 17 and 19 post-vincristine
administration. The rats were then treated with S. nodi-
flora extract (SNE) (100, 300 and 1000 mg/kg), pregabalin
(10, 30 and 100 mg/kg) and distilled water as vehicle daily
for 5 days and pain thresholds were measured on alternate
days for 3 days.
Results: SNE and pregabalin produced analgesic proper-
ties observed as increased paw withdrawal latencies to
mechanical, tactile, cold water stimuli and thermal hyper-
algesic tests during the 5 days of treatment.
Conclusions: The findings suggest that hydro-ethanolic
extract of S. nodiflora possesses anti-hyperalgesic and
anti-allodynic effects in vincristine-induced neuropathic
pain in rats.
