Abstract
Allodynia is a main symptom of the peripheral neuropathy induced by vincristine treatment. Theoesberiven F, a combination of Melilotus extract and proxyphylline, is currently used for the treatment of inflammatory conditions due to its potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. The anti-allodynic effect of theoesberiven F on mechanical and cold allodynia in a rat model of vincristine-induced neuropathy was investigated in the present study. Intraperitoneal vincristine injections were administered to male Sprague-Dawley rats at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg/day over 12 days (5 days of injection, a 2-day cessation and 5 days of injection). Rats that were allodynic following the vincristine injections were randomly allocated into four groups. Normal saline was injected into rats in the control group. Theoesberiven F (0.1, 0.25 and 0.5 mg/kg) was administered to rats in the three experimental groups, respectively. Mechanical and cold allodynia were measured at preadministration and at 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 min following the intraperitoneal administration of normal saline or theoesberiven F. The decreased paw withdrawal threshold induced by vincristine injection was increased by theoesberiven F administration. The increased withdrawal frequency to cold stimuli developed by vincristine was reduced by theoesberiven F administration. The results of this study suggest that the administration of theoesberiven F may be beneficial in reducing the mechanical and cold allodynia developed during vincristine treatment.