Effect of Hydroethanolic Extract of Rubus fruticosus on Neuropathic Pain in Wistar Diabetic Rats

Background: Diabetes mellitus is the most common metabolic disorder with many complications such as neuropathic pain which relief from it is a dilemma. Objectives: To investigate the effect of hydroethanolic extract of Rubus fruticosus on neuropathic pain in diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental case –control study, forty eight male Wistar rats (250±20 g) were divided randomly to non-diabetic and diabetic groups. Streptozotocin (60 mg/kg, intra-peritoneal) was used to induce experimental diabetes. Each group was divided into three groups: receiving orally normal saline, 100 and 200 mg/kg doses of Rubus fruticosus extract for 30 days. At the end; the rats were subjected to Tail-Flick test. The data were analyzed by one-way and two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test in SPSS 21. Results: In a paired comparison, all diabetic groups had shorter latency of tail-flicking time (p < 0.01) and lower pain tolerance threshold. Also among diabetic rats, significant differences existed between saline group and group receiving the extract at a dose of 100 mg/Kg (p < 0.01), between saline group and the group receiving the extract at a dose of 200 mg/Kg (p < 0.001) and also between the groups receiving extract at two different doses (p < 0.001). But, only diabetic group receiving the extract at a dose of 200 mg/Kg showed positive significant difference with non-diabetic control group (p < 0.01). Conclusions: The hydroethanolic extract of Rubus fruticosus can heighten the pain tolerance threshold and reduce the neuropathic pain induced by diabetes mellitus.