title: Case series in patients with zoster-associated pain using Mangifera indica L. extract.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neuroimmune activation has been proposed as a source of new targets for therapeutic intervention in neuropathic pain. Vimang® is an aqueous extract from Mangifera indica L. (common mango) that is traditionally used in Cuba for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and immunomodulatory properties. In the present case report, we determine its potential effects in patients with zoster-associated pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  12 patients with zoster-associated pain (6 with subacute herpetic neuralgia and 6 with post-herpetic neuralgia) received a daily dose of 1,800 mg of extract (2 coated 300 mg tablets, 3 times daily before meals) together with low doses of amitriptyline (10-25 mg/day) for 120 days. In addition to the tablets, patients used Vimang® cream 1.2% as a topical agent. The average daily pain score using the Likert scale, area and rate of dynamic allodynia, rate of thermal allodynia, and frequency of burning spontaneous pain were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pain scores and sensory abnormalities decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with respect to baseline data from week 4. No adverse events were reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that Vimang® could be beneficial in the treatment of neuropathic pain. However, a controlled clinical trial is necessary to confirm this hypothesis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Farmacología Molecular, Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo de Medicamentos, La Habana, Cuba. beatriz.garrido@infomed.sld.cu
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Garrido-Suárez
authors.forename: Gabino
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Garrido
authors.forename: Rene
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Delgado
authors.forename: Fe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bosch
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: del C Rabí
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D031022:Mangifera; D051474:Neuralgia, Postherpetic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: C501277:Mangifera indica extract; D010936:Plant Extracts