Anti‐allodynic and anti‐hyperalgesic activity of (±)‐licarin A in neuropathic rats via NO‐cyclic‐GMP‐ATP‐sensitive K+ channel pathway

Abstract

The study aimed to examine the effect of intraperitoneal and intrathecal (±)‐licarin A in neuropathic pain induced by L5 and L6 spinal nerve ligation (SNL) in male Wistar rats and the possible involvement of the NO‐cGMP‐ATP‐sensitive K+ channel pathway. Neuropathic pain signs (allodynia and hyperalgesia) were evaluated on postoperative Day 14 using von Frey filaments. Single intraperitoneal (0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10 mg/kg) and intrathecal (0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10 µg/rat) administration of (±)‐licarin A improved allodynia and hyperalgesia. The (±)‐licarin A‐induced anti‐allodynic and anti‐hyperalgesic activity was prevented by the intrathecal injection of l‐NAME (100 µg/rat; nonselective nitric oxide synthase inhibitor), ODQ (10 µg/rat; guanylate cyclase inhibitor), and glibenclamide (50 µg/rat; adenosine triphosphate (ATP)‐sensitive K+ channel blocker). The data suggest that (±)‐licarin A exerts its anti‐allodynic and anti‐hyperalgesic activity by activating the NO‐cGMP‐ATP‐sensitive K+ channel pathway.