Ameliorative potential of Alstonia scholaris (Linn.) R. Br. against chronic constriction injury-induced neuropathic pain in rats

Abstract

Background Alstonia scholaris commonly known as ‘Saptaparni’ is an Indian traditional medicinal plant used in Ayurveda. It is commonly used to treat various disorders like asthma, bronchitis, diarrhea, dysentery and malaria. In folklore medicine the milky juice of the plant is applied on wounds and ulcers to treat pain, ear ache and also in rheumatic pains.AimThe present study was designed to investigate the potential of A. scholaris R. Br. in chronic constriction injury of sciatic nerve (CCI) induced neuropathic pain in rats.MethodsPeripheral neuropathy was induced by chronic constriction injury of sciatic nerve. The behavioral parameters like mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia and cold allodynia were assessed on the 14th day. Tissue parameters like total protein, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, reduced glutathione, myeloperoxidase, total calcium and TNF-α were assessed to check biochemical changes. Chloroform and methanol extract of A. scholaris leaves (100 and 200 mg/kg) and pregabalin (10 mg/kg, as positive control) were administered orally for 14 consecutive days starting from the day of surgery.ResultsCCI resulted in significant development of mechanical hyperalgesia, heat hyperalgesia and cold allodynia along with alteration in the biochemical changes. Administration of methanol extract at 200 mg/kg significantly attenuated the CCI induced change in nociceptive threshold and biochemical changes which was comparable to that of pregabalin. The high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of the bioactive methanol extract revealed the presence of different types of flavonoids such as gallic acid, catechin, epicatechin, ellagic acid and kaempferol, in which kaempferol was observed to be in higher concentration.ConclusionMethanol extract (200 mg/kg) of A. scholaris showed the ameliorative effect in CCI induced neuropathic pain which may be due to the presence of kaempferol and attributed to its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties.

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“…Different parts of the plant are used in medicines as antimicrobial, antihelmenthic, astringent, antiperiodic, diarrhea, dysentery, antimalarial and bowel disorders 8 . Alstonia scholaris is one such plant showing multifarious pharmacological properties viz: diarrhea 9 , wounds and earache 10 , Leucorrhoea 11 , dog bite 12 , fever 13 , malignancy, jaundice, hepatitis, malaria, skin diseases 14 , astringent, thermogenic, cardiotonic 15 and antimicrobial activity 16 .…”

Evaluation of Antipyretic and Antiulcer Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Leaves of Alstonia Scholaris L. In Albino Wistar Rats

“…It is one of the most versatile medicinal plants as well as in pharmacologically as a traditional medicine [8]. It is used in the treatment of antiarthritic [9], anticonvulsant [10], antibacterial [11], antidiabetic [12], anti-inflammatory [13], antioxidant [14,15], antimicrobial [16], ameliorative [17], bronchodialatory [18], and hepatoprotective [19].…”

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“…R. Br. against chronic constriction injury-induced neuropathic pain 14 , invitro anti-bacterial and HPTLC study of of Alstonia scholaris latex to substantiate its ancient usage 22 , astringent, thermogenic, cardiotonic properties of chloroform extracts of Alstonia scholaris 23 .…”

“…In view of the medicinal importance of Alstonia species, research work is still continuing in different countries [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] . A. scholaris plant formulations are used to treat diarrhea 10 , wounds and earache 14 , fever 15 .…”