Čes. slov. farm. 2014, 63(2):55-70 | DOI: 10.36290/csf.2014.012

Selected natural phenolic compounds - potential treatment for peripheral neuropathy?

Karel Šmejkal

University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Natural Drugs, Brno, Czech Republic

Neuropathic pain is a syndrome comprising pain caused by a lesion or dysfunction of the nervous system, or resulting from lesions or diseases of the somatosensory system. Neuropathic pain is often connected with adverse effects of chemotherapy administered because of cancer, infiltration of the nervous tissue with cancer cells, neurodegeneration and diabetes mellitus. Disbalance in the production of various cytokines plays an important role in the pathogenesis of many of the diseases connected with neuropathies. These cytokines comprise in particular interleukins IL-1β, IL-15, and IL-6, tumour necrosis factors, and prostaglandins. The biochemistry of the production of cytokines is directed by nuclear factors, which affect the expression of the mRNA for the respective cytokines or enzymes metabolizing the cytokines. The main nuclear factor which regulates the expression of cytokines is NF-κB. Because of insufficient effectiveness or adverse effects of the pharmacological treatment of peripheral neuropathy, many patients seek supportive or adjuvant therapy. Natural compounds which modulate the production of inflammatory cytokines may reduce the symptoms of neuropathies. Many natural phenolic compounds belong to substances affecting the activity of NF-κB and consequently the activity of cytokines which are regulated by this substance. The aim of this mini-review is to present information about three natural phenols which are potentially usable for the treatment of neuropathies: curcumin, resveratrol and mangiferin, and bring attention to the practical usability thereof. Curcumin and mangiferin are active constituents of plants; they have been used for centuries in traditional medicine. Biological effects of resveratrol have been known for a relatively short time; since the discovery of the so-called French paradox, attention has been focused on resveratrol. This summary includes particularly the information related to the influence on the activity of NF-κB, expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines, and antiradical activity, because imbalance between the creation and degradation of free radicals plays an important role in the activation of NF-κB and in inflammatory processes. It also briefly summarizes basic information concerning bioavailability, metabolism and practical application of the aforementioned substances.

Keywords: phenols; curcumin; mangiferin; NF-κB; peripheral neuropathy; resveratrol

Received: February 25, 2014; Accepted: March 6, 2014; Published: February 1, 2014  Show citation