Pueraria mirifica is a plant in the Leguminosae family, locally known in Thai as Khao-kruea-khao. This plant’s tuberous root contains phytoestrogen compounds which are similar to mammalian estrogen. Phytoestrogen comprises chemicals which inhibit inflammatory mediator. Moreover, it may help in nerve regeneration and prevent cell death as mammalian estrogen does. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the effects of Pueraria mirifica on neuropathic pain induced rats. The rats were divided into four groups, two control groups which are the general control (CT) and the surgical control (Sham) and two subjective groups which are the neuropathic pain induced group treated with 0.9% normal saline (SNI—N) and the neuropathic pain induced group treated with Pueraria mirifica suspension (SNI—PM). The results indicated that the neuropathic pain induced group which received Pueraria mirifica suspension (SNI—PM) showed the minimum of pain withdrawal threshold at day 5 after nerve surgery and increased to the maximum threshold closely to the baseline at 26.00 g (normal state) in the sixth week. Pueraria mirifica may decrease neuropathic pain after nerve injury. Less pain was found during the regeneration process of damaged nerves, and more movement could be enhanced, therefore, it may also promote the recovery of nerve function in rats.
Peuraria mirifica has some effects on the behavior of the spared nerve injury rats in term of decreasing neuropathic pain in neuropathy and may support the regeneration of damaged nervous tissue which leads to the recovery of neuropathic pain.
Kamolchanok Tanchotikul1, Quankamon Dejativongse Na Ayudhya1*, Orawan Piyaboon1 and Supin Chompoopong2
1Department of Biology, Mahidol Wittayanusorn School, Buddhamonthon, Nakhon Pathom, 73170
2Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Rajthevi, Bangkok, 10400 e-mail: [email protected]
35th Congress on Science and Technology of Thailand
Chonburi, Thailand, 15- 17 October, 2009
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