Naringenin reduces inflammatory pain in mice

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Pain Research
• Natural Products Chemistry

Background:

• Naringenin is a flavonoid with known anti-inflammatory properties and low toxicity.
• Previous research indicated naringenin's analgesic effects in neuropathic pain models.
• The current study investigates naringenin's efficacy in various inflammatory pain models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the analgesic effects of naringenin in multiple models of inflammatory pain.
• To explore the underlying mechanisms of naringenin's pain-relieving actions.

Main Methods:

• Mice were treated orally with naringenin (16.7-150 mg/kg) or control drugs.
• Pain behaviors were assessed using acetic acid-induced visceral pain, formalin, capsaicin, and CFA-induced paw tests.
• Mechanical hyperalgesia was measured using electronic von Frey filaments after various inflammatory stimuli.

Main Results:

• Naringenin (50 mg/kg) significantly reduced pain behaviors across all tested stimuli, including both phases of the formalin test.
• Naringenin inhibited mechanical hyperalgesia induced by carrageenan, capsaicin, and PGE2.
• Mechanisms involved inhibition of oxidative stress, pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-33, TNF-α, IL-1β), NF-κB activation, and activation of the NO-cGMP-PKG pathway.

Conclusions:

• Naringenin exhibits potent analgesic effects in inflammatory pain models, suggesting direct nociceptor modulation.
• The compound demonstrates anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties through multiple molecular pathways.
• Naringenin presents a promising therapeutic agent for inflammatory and neurogenic pain with no observed gastric or hepatic toxicity.