Evaluating the anti-neuropathic effects of naringin-loaded chitosan nanocarriers in a murine model of constriction injury

Abstract

Peripheral neuropathies are associated with various detrimental complications, leading to life-debilitating disorders, including neuropathic pain. Hence, the current study aimed to incorporate naringin, a potential natural component, into chitosan nanoparticles (NPs) to ameliorate the complications resulting from chronic constriction injury (CCI) induced painful neuropathy. The prepared NPs had a particle size of 220 nm and PDI = 0.37, with relatively spherical morphology and zeta potential of +41.5 mV. The relevant analyses indicated the loading and high encapsulation efficiency of naringin into the NPs as well as a prolonged release of naringin. The anti-neuropathic evaluations of chronic constriction injury (CCI)-induced rats treated with naringin-loaded NPs (10 mg/kg) remarkably ameliorated hyperalgesia and cold allodynia. In addition, the treatment with naringin-loaded NPs led to improvements in sensory and locomotor impairment, as evidenced by changes in behavioral parameters such as reduced paw licking, increased rearings, and enhanced crossings. The NPs treatment significantly attenuated the elevated levels of nitrite and restored the reduced glutathione level in the serum of CCI-induced rats. Moreover, histopathological analysis exhibited regeneration of the sciatic nerve injury through reducing myelin degeneration, axonal swelling, and nerve fiber derangement. Therefore, these findings suggest that the naringin-loaded chitosan NPs has promising pharmacological activities for the treatment of neuropathic pain sufferers.