title: Effects of rosmarinic acid on an experimental model of painful diabetic neuropathy in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diabetic neuropathic (DN) pain is one of the diabetes complications. Rosmarinic acid (RA), a natural phenol antioxidant, shows some biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-diabetic effects.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the efficacy of RA administration (10 and 30 mg/kg) on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced neuropathy in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  The animals received saline or RA (10 and 30 mg/kg, p.o.; once daily) for 8 weeks. DN was evaluated by the tail flick (TF) method, formalin test, and tactile allodynia. At the end, all rats were weighed and underwent plasma glucose measurement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was an increase in licking time during both formalin test phases in diabetic animals (138.5 ± 10.7 and 448.7 ± 2.6 s) that was decreased by RA10 mg/kg (103.5 ± 7.5 and 284.4 ± 19 s) and RA 30 mg/kg (81.8 ± 11 and 192.7 ± 14 s). RA 30 mg/kg caused anti-nociception during the early phase in treated controls (52.1 ± 6 s) than untreated controls (99.4 ± 5.9 s). The TF latency in diabetics (2.9 ± 0.1 s) was increased in RA10 and 30 mg/kg treated diabetics (5.3 ± 0.4 and 6 ± 0.86 s). The paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) of the diabetics (3.6 ± 0.7 g) was increased after RA 10 and 30 mg/kg (13.8 ± 0.3 and 14 ± 0.4 g) treatment. RA did not induce a significant change in body weight and plasma glucose of rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RA showed efficacy in amelioration of some aspects of DN. Therefore, RA makes a good candidate for DN treatment in clinical studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, School of Basic Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University , Hamedan , Iran.
authors.forename: Parisa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hasanein
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mohammad Zaheri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002934:Cinnamates / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053630:Depsides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000379:methods; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000097123:Rosmarinic Acid
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002934:Cinnamates; D053630:Depsides; D000097123:Rosmarinic Acid
keywords: Allodynia; diabetes; hyperalgesia; hyperglycemia; nociception; rats