Review Article

Food-Derived Natural Compounds for Pain Relief in Neuropathic Pain

Table 1

Food-derived compounds alleviating neuropathic pain in vivo.

Food compoundSourceTargetSiteAnimal modelReference

BerberineBerberis vulgarisNF-κBPNSCCI[70]
CapsaicinHot chili peppersTRPV1PNSCCI[71]
β-CaryophylleneOriganum vulgare L.CB2Spinal cordPNL[72]
Chlorogenic acidIlex paraguariensis, coffeeGABA receptor, NPYspinal cord, DRGSNI, CCI[73, 74]
CurcuminCurcuma longaDR, CREB, phospholipase Ccerebral cortex and cerebellumDiabetic model[75]
DHCBCorydalis ambigua var. amurensisDRBrainSNL[76]
GenisteinSoyERβ, NOS, NF-κBsciatic nerve, DRG, spinal cord, thalamusCCI[77]
Huperzine AHuperzia serratamAChRsPNSCPN[78]
LycopeneTomatoCx43spinal astrocytesPNL[79]
NaringinGrapeinflammatory mediators, apoptosisneural cellDiabetic model[80]
Omega-3Fish oilp38 MAPKSpinal cordSCI[81]
PEAEggs and milkCB1, TRPV1, PPARγ receptorsSpinal cordCCI[82]
PhlorotanninsSea weedInflammatory mediatorsDRGSNI[83]
QuercetinRed kidney beans, capersOPRPNS, CNSDiabetic model, CCI[84, 85]
Resolvin E1Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acidMicrogliosis, TNF-αmicrogliaSNL[86]
ResveratrolGrapes, nuts, berriesSIRT1Spinal cordCCI[87, 88]
ZerumboneZingiber zerumbetTRPV1, TRPA1DRGCCI[89]

DHCB: dehydrocorybulbine, PEA: palmitoylethanolamide, NF-κB: nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells, TRPV1: transient receptor potential vanilloid 1, CB2: cannabinoid receptor type 2, GABA: gamma-aminobutyric acid, NPY: Neuropeptide Y, DR: dopamine receptor, CREB: cAMP response element-binding protein, ERβ: estrogen receptors, NOS: nitric oxide synthase, mAChRs: muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, cx43: connexin 43, p38 MAPK: p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases, PPARγ: peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, OPR: opioid receptor, TNF-α: tumor necrosis factor-α, SIRT1: Sirtuin 1, TRPA1: transient receptor potential ankyrin 1, PNS: peripheral nervous system, DRG: dorsal root ganglion, CNS: central nervous system, CCI: chronic constriction injury, PNL: partial nerve ligation, SNI: spared nerve injury, SNL: spinal nerve ligation, and CPN: Common Peroneal Nerve.