Liquiritigenin alleviates mechanical and cold hyperalgesia in a rat neuropathic pain model

This study assessed the potential antinociceptive effects of liquiritigenin, a plant-derived compound with transient receptor potential melastatin 3 blocking activity in a rat model of persistent neuropathic pain. Chronic constriction injury (CCI) to the sciatic nerve was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats to model human peripheral neuropathic pain. Liquiritigenin (1, 3, or 9 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally to examine the effects on mechanical, thermal, and cold hyperalgesia using the von Frey test, plantar test, and cold plate test, respectively. A rotarod test was also conducted to examine motor function. Liquiritigenin dose dependently alleviated mechanical, thermal and cold hyperalgesia. In addition, daily repeated treatment with liquiritigenin did not demonstrate significant antinociceptive tolerance in the measures of hyperalgesia. Within the doses studied, liquiritigenin did not significantly affect motor performance. These results suggest that liquiritigenin may be potentially useful novel treatments for neuropathic pain.