Open AccessStudy of nuclear factor‐2 erythroid related factor‐2 activator, berberine, in paclitaxel induced peripheral neuropathy pain model in rats
Author(s) -
Singh Jagjit,
Saha Lekha,
Singh Neha,
Kumari Puja,
Bhatia Alka,
Chakrabarti Amitava
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.745
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 2042-7158
pISSN - 0022-3573
DOI - 10.1111/jphp.13047
Subject(s) - peripheral neuropathy , oxidative stress , medicine , sciatic nerve , hyperalgesia , allodynia , neuropathic pain , endocrinology , berberine , glutathione , pharmacology , superoxide dismutase , anesthesia , chemistry , diabetes mellitus , receptor , biochemistry , nociception , enzyme
Objectives The role of nuclear factor‐2 erythroid related factor‐2 (Nrf2) activator, berberine ( BBR ), has been established in rat model of streptozotocin induced diabetic neuropathy. Around 30–40% of cancer patients, on paclitaxel ( PTX ) chemotherapy develop peripheral neuropathy. The present study was contemplated with the aim of establishing the neuropathy preventive role of BBR , in paclitaxel induced peripheral neuropathy model in rats. Methods A total of 30 Wistar rats were divided into five groups as follows: Group I: dimethyl sulfoxide; Group II : PTX + 0.9% NaCl; Group III : Amitriptyline ( ATL ) + PTX ; Group IV : BBR (10 mg/kg) + PTX and Group V: BBR (20 mg/kg) + PTX . Animals were assessed for tail flick latency, tail cold allodynia latency, histopathological scores, oxidative stress parameters, and mRNA expression of the Nrf2 gene in the sciatic nerve. Key findings Berberine significantly increased the tail flick and tail cold allodynia latencies and significantly decreased the histopathological score. BBR reduced oxidative stress by significantly decreasing the lipid peroxidation, increasing the superoxide dismutase and reduced glutathione levels in the sciatic nerve. BBR also increased the mRNA expression of Nrf2 gene in rat sciatic nerve. Conclusions All of these results showed the neuropathy preventing role of BBR in PTX induced neuropathy pain model in rats.