Lycopene ameliorates thermal hyperalgesia and cold allodynia in STZ-induced diabetic rat.

Peripheral neuropathy is one of the common complications of diabetes mellitus. It is frequently associated with debilitating pain. The present study was designed to investigate effect of Lycopene, a carotenoid found in tomatoes, on hyperalgesia and cold allodynia in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. After 4-weeks of STZ injection, diabetic mice exhibited a significant thermal hyperalgesia cold allodynia, hyperglycemia and loss of body weights as compared with control rats. Chronic treatment of lycopene for 4 weeks significantly attenuated the cold allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. The results emphasize the role of antioxidant such as lycopene as an adjuvant therapy in the treatment of diabetic neuropathy.