Investigation of the effects of vitexin and vitexin loaded carrier system on neuropathic pain

Vitexin is a flavonoid known to have various pharmacological activities including antinociception and its effect on neuropathic pain has not been studied in detail before. In this thesis, it was aimed to determine the possible effects of the vitexin and vitexin loaded on solid lipid nanoparticle on neuropathic pain and to evaluate the relationship between this activity and the serotonergic system. A model of neuropathic pain induced by chronic construction nerve injury was developed in rats. The anti-allodynic and antihyperalgesic effects of 5, 10, 20, 40 mg/kg vitexin were evaluated. WAY-100635 (5-HT1A receptor antagonist), ketanserin (5-HT2A/2C receptor antagonist), and ondansetron (5-HT3 receptor antagonist) were used to examine the involvement of the serotonergic system in the anti-allodynic and antihyperalgesic activity provided by vitexin. According to the data; while vitexin showed anti-allodynic activity at all doses administered, it showed antihyperalgesic activity except for the application of 5 mg/kg vitexin. Accordingly, a solid lipid nanoparticle formulation was prepared with the selected 5 mg/kg vitexin. When the anti-allodynic and antihyperalgesic effects of 5 mg/kg vitexin and 5 mg/kg vitexin loaded carrier system were compared, it was determined that the vitexin loaded carrier system had a significant effect. It was determined that 5-HT1A and 5-HT3 receptor stimulations significantly contributed to the anti-allodynic and antihyperalgesic activity of vitexin.