The Protective Effect of Bergamot Polyphenolic Fraction (BPF) on Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic Pain

Abstract

Paclitaxel is a chemotherapeutic drug used for cancer treatment. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common major dose-limiting side effect of many chemotherapeutic agents, including paclitaxel. CIPN is accompanied by mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity that resolves within weeks, months, or years after drug termination. To date, there is no available preventive strategy or effective treatment for CIPN due to the fact that its etiology has not been fully explained. It is clear that free radicals are implicated in many neurodegenerative diseases and recent studies have shown the important role of oxidative stress in development of CIPN. Here, we observed how, in rats, the administration of a natural antioxidant such as the bergamot polyphenolic extract (BPF), can play a crucial role in reducing CIPN. Paclitaxel administration induced mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia, which began to manifest on day seven, and reached its lowest levels on day fifteen. Paclitaxel-induced neuropathic pain was associated with nitration of proteins in the spinal cord including MnSOD, glutamine synthetase, and glutamate transporter GLT-1. This study showed that the use of BPF, probably by inhibiting the nitration of crucial proteins involved in oxidative stress, improved paclitaxel-induced pain behaviors relieving mechanical allodynia, thermal hyperalgesia, thus preventing the development of chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain.

Zygo-Albuside A: New Saponin from Zygophyllum album L. with Significant Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory and Antiapoptotic Effects against Methotrexate-Induced Testicular Damage

“…Several studies have proved that phytotherapeutic antioxidants are considered as an auspicious strategy for attenuating chemotherapy-induced organ toxicities [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. Additionally, numerous natural products have been reported for being beneficial in the management of male reproductive problems [24] arising from environmental pollutants, toxins and drugs [25].…”

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Role of Nutraceuticals in the Management of Neuropathic Pain in In Vivo Studies

“…Specifically, in the rat model of chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain, intraperitoneal injection of BPF protects from thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia. Hence, the development of neuropathic pain occurs via inhibition of the nitration of essential proteins involved in oxidative stress [ 3 , 71 ].…”

“…Various mechanisms are involved in the onset of neuropathic pain, the most important of which are mechanically induced pain neuropathy, diabetes, and chemotherapy [ 3 , 71 ]. Therefore, the present study includes data related to these mechanisms, and through the analysis of thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia/hyperalgesia, nutraceuticals seem to improve the symptoms of neuropathic pain caused by all of these mechanisms.…”

Protective Role of Bergamot Polyphenolic Fraction (BPF) against Deltamethrin Toxicity in Honeybees (Apis mellifera)

“…The results of the analysis, including the chemical characteristics, active ingredients, heavy metals, and microbiological evaluation, are shown in Table 1 [59,60].…”