The current study was designed to evaluate therapeutic potential of systemically administered ethanolic and aqueous extracts of saffron as well as its bioactive ingredients,
safranal and
crocin, in chronic constriction injury (CCI)-induced
neuropathic pain in rats. The von Frey filaments,
acetone drop, and radiant heat test were performed to assess the degree of
mechanical allodynia,
thermal allodynia and
thermal hyperalgesia respectively, at different time intervals, i.e., one day before surgery and 3, 5, 7 and 10 days post surgery. The ambulatory behavior was evaluated using the open field test. A 7-day treatment with the ethanolic and aqueous extracts (50,100 and 200 mg/kg, i.p.) and
safranal (0.025, 0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg, i.p.), attenuated the behavioral symptoms of
neuropathic pain in a dose dependent manner.
Crocin even at the high dose (50 mg/kg) failed to produce any protective role. However, gabapentine (100 mg/kg) as a reference
drug significantly alleviated all behavioral manifestations of
neuropathic pain compared to control group. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that ethanolic and aqueous extracts of saffron as well as
safranal could be useful in treatment of different kinds of
neuropathic pains and as an adjuvant to conventional medicines.