Analgesic eﬀect of Dahuang Fuzi Decoction in neuropathic pain through inhibiting TNF-α and PI3K-AKT signaling

Front. Neurosci., 2024 · DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1464477 · Published: December 11, 2024

Alternative Medicine Immunology Pain Management

Simple Explanation

Neuropathic pain is a challenging condition with limited treatment options. This study explores Dahuang Fuzi Decoction (DF), a traditional Chinese medicine, as a potential alternative for relieving pain. The research investigates how DF affects pain pathways in rats with nerve damage, focusing on inflammation and specific signaling molecules in the spinal cord. The study finds that DF reduces inflammation and affects key signaling pathways, suggesting it could be a new way to manage neuropathic pain.

Study Duration

15 days

Participants

36 male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats

Evidence Level

Level 1: Experimental study using a chronic sciatic nerve compression injury (CCI) rat model

Key Findings

1
DF treatment significantly increased the mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal withdrawal latency (TWL) in CCI rats, indicating its analgesic effect.
2
Network pharmacology analysis suggested that DF potentially modulated TNF-α and PI3K-AKT signaling pathways.
3
DF treatment decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) in spinal cord tissues of CCI rats, suggesting an anti-inflammatory effect.

Research Summary

This study investigates the analgesic effects of Dahuang Fuzi Decoction (DF) on neuropathic pain (NeP) using a rat model of chronic sciatic nerve compression injury (CCI). The research combines chemical analysis of DF, behavioral tests on rats, network pharmacology to predict mechanisms, and molecular biology techniques to validate the predictions. The findings suggest that DF relieves NeP by inhibiting TNF-α and PI3K-AKT signaling pathways in the spinal cord, offering a potential new treatment approach.

Practical Implications

Novel Therapeutic Avenue

DF could be further explored as a treatment option for neuropathic pain, especially for patients who do not respond well to conventional treatments.

Targeted Drug Development

The identification of TNF-α and PI3K-AKT signaling pathways as key targets opens avenues for developing drugs that specifically modulate these pathways to alleviate neuropathic pain.

Integrative Medicine Approach

The study supports the integration of traditional Chinese medicine with modern medicine for pain management, providing a rationale for further research into TCM formulas.

Study Limitations

1
The study is limited to a rat model of CCI, which may not fully represent the complexity of neuropathic pain in humans.
2
The specific active compounds in DF responsible for the observed effects were not definitively identified, requiring further fractionation and testing.
3
The long-term effects and potential side effects of DF treatment were not assessed, necessitating further investigation before clinical application.

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