Abstract :
Peripheral neuropathy is defined as damage to the peripheral nervous
system resulting in a syndrome of sensory loss, muscle weakness and
atrophy along with vasomotor symptoms, alone or in any combination.
The aim of the present study is to evaluate the Antinociceptive and
neuroprotective activity of Withania somnifera (WS) extract in rat
model of Vincristine induced peripheral neuropathy.
This study accomplished that the WS extract improved body weights of
the rats which were changed during the experiment, nociceptive
threshold estimated to the extent of neuropathic pain by assessing the
screening procedures; paw and tail cold allodynia, tail immersion, tail
flick, paw heat hyperalgesia, motor in-co-ordination and mechanical
hyperalgesia. Withania somnifera extract reversed the vincristine
induced anemia, leucopenia and thrombocytopenia in rats assessed by
estimating the parameters- RBC, WBC, Haemoglobin percentage,
hematocrit, platelet count and MCV. Vincristine induced oxidative stress
(increased TBARS and decreases gluthathione) was attenuated by WS
extract which was estimated in sciatic nerve homogenate. The nerve
fiber dearrangement which was seen in the histopathological study of
sciatic nerve samples against the vincristine induced peripheral
neuropathy was reversed by Withania somnifera extract.
Administration of WS extract attenuated the physical, behavioral,
hematological, biochemical, histopathological parameters in vincristine
induced neuropathy.
Withania somnifera extract administration is claimed to be useful in the
treatment of pain associated with peripheral neuropathy which may be
attributed to antinociceptive, immunomodulator, antioxidant,
neuroprotective activities supports the ethno-pharmacological activity
of WS.
Keyword :
neuropathy, Antinociceptive, Withania Somnifera,