Effect of Hydroethanolic Extract of Rubus fruticosus on Neuropathic Pain in Wistar Diabetic Rats

Background: Diabetes mellitus is the most common metabolic disorder withmany complications such as neuropathic pain which relief from it is a dilemma.Objectives: To investigate the effect of hydroethanolic extract of Rubusfruticosus on neuropathic pain in diabetic rats.Materials and Methods: In this experimental case –control study, forty eightmale Wistar rats (250±20 g) were divided randomly to non-diabetic anddiabetic groups. Streptozotocin (60 mg/kg, intra-peritoneal) was used to induceexperimental diabetes. Each group was divided into three groups: receivingorally normal saline, 100 and 200 mg/kg doses of Rubus fruticosus extract for30 days. At the end; the rats were subjected to Tail-Flick test. The data wereanalyzed by one-way and two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test in SPSS21.Results: In a paired comparison, all diabetic groups had shorter latency of tailflickingtime (p < 0.01) and lower pain tolerance threshold.Also among diabetic rats, significant differences existed between saline groupand group receiving the extract at a dose of 100 mg/Kg (p < 0.01), betweensaline group and the group receiving the extract at a dose of 200 mg/Kg (p <0.001) and also between the groups receiving extract at two different doses (p <0.001). But, only diabetic group receiving the extract at a dose of 200 mg/Kgshowed positive significant difference with non-diabetic control group (p <0.01).Conclusions: The hydroethanolic extract of Rubus fruticosus can heighten thepain tolerance threshold and reduce the neuropathic pain induced by diabetesmellitus.

Keywords:

Rubus fruticosus , Diabetes Mellitus , Diabetic Neuropathies