Abstract
Aim: This study investigated the analgesic effect of pregabalin and Vitamin C, singly and in combination, on induced neuropathic pain in a rat model.
Methods: Twenty-five Wistar rats with neuropathic pain induced by sciatic nerve ligation were randomly divided into five groups (n=5): Group A (pregabalin 30 mg/kg/day, oral), Group B (Vitamin C 500 mg/kg/day, oral), Group C (pregabalin 25 mg/kg/day + Vitamin C 500 mg/kg/day, oral), and control and sham groups. Pain sensitivity tests, including thermal and cold allodynia, were conducted using hot plate and acetone tests, respectively. Blood samples were collected for serum analysis of malondialdehyde (MDA), creatinine, glucose levels, and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST).
Results: The outcomes revealed that sciatic nerve ligation induced significant neuropathic pain in the control group by day 7. Latency test, which measures the time it takes for a subject, such as a rat, to respond to a painful stimulus, provide an assessment of the effectiveness of analgesic treatments in reducing pain perception. Hot plate latency significantly (P<0.05) increased in the pregabalin and pregabalin+Vitamin C groups compared to the control. No significant (P>0.05) differences in MDA, glucose levels, SOD and ALT activities were observed between the groups on day 15. AST activity significantly (P<0.05) increased in the pregabalin +Vitamin C group compared to the control, pregabalin, and Vitamin C groups. Creatinine levels were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the control group than in the treated groups.
Conclusion: The combination of pregabalin and Vitamin C demonstrated a synergistic effect in alleviating neuropathic pain in rats. This suggests that Vitamin C may enhance the analgesic efficacy of pregabalin, thus, potentially allowing for dose reduction.