Quercetin attenuates thermal hyperalgesia and cold allodynia in STZ-induced diabetic rats

Neuropathic pain is one of the important microvascular complications of diabetes. Oxidative stress and superoxide play a critical role in the development of neurovascular complications in diabetes. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of quercetin, a bioflavonoid on thermal nociceptive responses in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats assessed by tail-immersion and hot plate methods. After 4-weeks of a single intravenous STZ injection (45 mg/kg body weight), diabetic rats exhibited a significant thermal hyperalgesia and cold allodynia along with increased plasma glucose and decreased body weights as compared with control rats. Chronic treatment with quercetin (10 mg/kg body weight; p.o) for 4-weeks starting from the 4th week of STZ-injection significantly attenuated the cold allodynia as well as hyperalgesia. Results indicate that quercetin, a natural antioxidant, may be helpful in diabetic neuropathy.