Antinociceptive effect of Brassica juncea on peripheral neuropathy induced by diabetes in rat

Diabetes mellitus is a common metabolic disorder that is associated with many complications such as peripheral neuropathies. This study was designed to investigate the effect of Brassica juncea on peripheral neuropathic pain in diabetic rat. In this experimental study, male Wistar rats (250±20 g) were divided randomly to normal and diabetic (control, B. juncea extract at doses 150 and 300 mg/kg) groups. Experimental diabetes was induced by the intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg). After four weeks treatment, animals were subjected to Tail-flick test to evaluate pain threshold and data were analyzed using SPSS software. Statistical significance was considered at p<0.05. The results of this study showed that diabetes significantly decreased pain threshold in the rats. Also diabetes-induced hyperalgesia was significantly decreased by treatment with extracts of B. juncea at doses 150 and 300 mg/kg (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). Our observation indicates that B. juncea could be a therapeutic option for control and treatment of hyperalgesia associated with diabetic neuropathy in diabetic patients. However, further studies are required to elucidate the antinociceptive effects of B. juncea.