Behavioral And Pharmacological Characteristics Of Passiflora Incarnata On Methotrexate-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy In Rats

Abstract

The present study was designed to explore the anti-nociceptive effects of hydroethanolic extract of Passiflora
incarnata in Methotrexate induced painful neuropathy in rats. The intraperitoneal administration of
Methotrexate 50 g/kg; for 10 consecutive days has been employed for the induction of neuropathy.
Hydroethanolic extract of Passiflora incarnata (HEEPI)(100mg/kg, 200mg/kg; p.o) and pregabalin
(standard; 10mg/kg; p.o) has to be administered for 14 consecutive days two hour before Methotrexate
injection. Behavioural tests such as paw heat hyperalgesic test, cold chemical allodynic test and tail heat
hyperalgesic test were assessed starting from day 0 and subsequently
on day 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 21st day. Further, the biochemical changes i.e., thiobarbituric acid reactive
substances (TBARS), reduced glutathione (GSH)and total calcium levels has to be estimated in sciatic nerve
tissue, on 21st day after sacrificing the animal and histopathological changes has to be observed in sciatic
nerve tissue. Administration of Methotrexate resulted in significant changes in behavioural and biochemical
parameters. Pre treatment of HEEPI ameliorated Methotrexate induced behavioral, biochemical and
histopathological changes in a dose dependent manner, which is similar to that of pregabalin pre treated
group. The results suggests that, the neuroprotective effect of Passiflora incarnata may be due to its potential
of anti-oxidative, calcium channel modulating and neuroprotective action.