title: Attenuating effect of Acorus calamus extract in chronic constriction injury induced neuropathic pain in rats: an evidence of anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and calcium inhibitory effects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acorus calamus (family: Araceae), is an indigenous plant, traditionally it is used as an ingredient of various cocktail preparations and for the management of severe inflammatory disorders in Indian system of medicine. Present study investigated the attenuating role of Acorus calamus plant extract in chronic constriction injury (CCI) of sciatic nerve induced peripheral neuropathy in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hot plate, plantar, Randall Selitto, Von Frey Hair, pin prick, acetone drop, photoactometer and rota-rod tests were performed to assess degree of thermal, radiant, mechanical, chemical sensation, spontaneous motor activity and motor co-ordination changes respectively, at different time intervals i.e., day 0, 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 21. Tissue myeloperoxidase, superoxide anion and total calcium levels were determined after 21st day to assess biochemical alterations. Histopathological evaluations were also performed. Hydroalcoholic extract of Acorus calamus (HAE-AC, 100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) and pregabalin (10 mg/kg, p.o.) were administered from the day of surgery for 14 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CCI of sciatic nerve significantly induced thermal, radiant, mechanical hyperalgesia and thermal, chemical, tactile allodynia, along with increase in the levels of superoxide anion, total calcium and myeloperoxidase activity. Moreover significant histological changes were also observed. HAE-AC attenuated CCI induced development of painful behavioural, biochemical and histological changes in a dose dependent manner similar to that of pregabalin serving as positive control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acorus calamus prevented CCI induced neuropathy which may be attributed to its multiple actions including anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and calcium inhibitory actions.
authors.affiliation: Department of pharmaceutical sciences and drug research, Punjabi university, Patiala-147002, India.
authors.forename: Arunachalam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muthuraman
authors.forename: Nirmal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D029023:Acorus; D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002118:Calcium / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000150:complications; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000187:drug effects; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069583:Pregabalin; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D027343:Rhizome; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000293:injuries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D020426:Sciatic Neuropathy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013481:Superoxides; D000069583:Pregabalin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D009195:Peroxidase; D002118:Calcium