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Attenuating effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Acorus calamus in vincristine-induced painful neuropathy in rats

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Abstract

The present study was designed to investigate the attenuating potential of hydroalcoholic extract of Acorus calamus in vincristine-induced neuropathic pain in rats. Vincristine (50 μg/kg, i.p. for 10 consecutive days) was administered to induce neuropathic pain in rats. Hot plate, plantar, Randall–Selitto and von Frey hair tests were performed to assess the degree of thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia, respectively, at different time intervals, viz., 0, 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 21 days. Tissue myeloperoxidase, superoxide anion and total calcium levels were determined after day 21to assess biochemical alterations. Histopathological evaluations were also performed. Hydroalcoholic extract of Acorus calamus (HAE-AC, 100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) and pregabalin (10 mg/kg, p.o.) were administered for 14 consecutive days. Vincristine significantly induced peripheral neuropathic pain, manifested in thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia, along with rises in the levels of superoxide anion, total calcium and myeloperoxidase activity. Moreover, significant histological changes were also observed. HAE-AC attenuated vincristine-induced development of painful behavioural, biochemical and histological changes in a dose-dependent manner comparable to that of pregabalin, serving as positive control. Acorus calamus prevented vincristine-induced neuropathic pain, which may be attributed to its anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and calcium inhibitory actions, among others.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the financial support from Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi, India, through the research scheme no. 01 (2344)/09-EMR-II. The authors are also thankful to Mr. Amteshwar Singh Jaggi and Mr. Dhandeep Singh, Assistant Professors, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research, Punjabi University, Patiala, for their technical support. This study was presented at the Gufic award session best paper presentation on herbal medicine in India during the 43rd annual conference of the Indian Pharmacological Society (IPS), December 2010, held at the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Hyderabad, India.

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  1. Pharmacology Division, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Drug Research, Punjabi University, Patiala, 147002, Punjab, India

    Arunachalam Muthuraman & Nirmal Singh

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  1. Arunachalam Muthuraman
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  2. Nirmal Singh
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Correspondence to Nirmal Singh.

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Muthuraman, A., Singh, N. Attenuating effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Acorus calamus in vincristine-induced painful neuropathy in rats. J Nat Med 65, 480–487 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11418-011-0525-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11418-011-0525-y

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