Evaluation of the rutin-pregabalin combination in the treatment of neuropathic pain induced by nerve injury

Neuropathic pain is a type of chronic pain associated with nerve injury. Due to the complex pathophysiology of neuropathic pain, pharmacological agents with multiple mechanisms of action or combination therapy approaches are preferred in its treatment. Rutin is a bioactive compound shown to be effective in experimental neuropathic pain. This thesis aimed to evaluate the potential antiallodynic and antihyperalgesic effects of rutin at doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg in combination with 3 mg/kg pregabalin in a rat model of chronic constriction nerve injury induced neuropathic pain, using the electronic von Frey device and the plantar test (Hargreaves method) over a period of 180 minutes. It was determined that all combination groups exhibited statistically significant antihyperalgesic and antiallodynic effects at certain time intervals compared to the groups treated with rutin or 3 mg/kg pregabalin alone, and that the level of efficacy was comparable to that of the group treated with 30 mg/kg pregabalin. Among the combination groups, the most effective outcome was observed in the group receiving 25 mg/kg rutin. Furthermore, this effect was found to be independent of locomotor activity. Considering that rutin has a low side effect profile and that pregabalin, although clinically used, has a dose-dependent side effect potential, it was concluded that the combination of low-dose pregabalin with rutin could be a potential candidate for combination therapy, offering effective treatment while minimizing possible side effects.