Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim. and Bioactive Compound Cucurbitacin D Alleviate Cisplatin-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy In Vitro and In Vivo

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) has a markedly deleterious impact on a patient’s quality of life. It manifests as pain, paresthesia, numbness, and weakness, particularly in the context of cisplatin (CDDP), a widely utilised chemotherapeutic agent renowned for its pronounced peripheral nerve toxicity. Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim. (Cucurbitaceae, TK) and cucurbitacin D(CucD), its bioactive compound, have been demonstrated to possess anti-tumour, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. However, their potential to alleviate CIPN has not been fully exploredyet. The present study evaluated effectiveness of TK and CucD in mitigating CDDP-induced neuropathic pain using both cellular and animal models. CDDP, TK extracts (TKD and TKE), and CucD dose-dependently reduced viability and apoptosis of PC12 cells. Conversely, pre-treatment with TKD, TKE, and CucD exhibited significant protective effects against CDDP-induced cytotoxicity, preserving cell viability and morphology while enhancing neurite outgrowth. In vivo, administration of CDDP resulted in the development of mechanical allodynia and thermalhyperalgesia in rats. However, treatment with TKD and TKE led to a notable improvement in pain threshold and a reduction in hyperalgesia, while CucD demonstrated less pronounced effects. Although body weight was reduced in the CDDP-treated group, it was not significantly mitigated bytreatments. In conclusion, results of this study indicate that TKD, TKE, and CucD have the potential to alleviate CDDP-induced neuropathic pain by protecting against cell damage, promoting neuriteregeneration, and improving pain responses in animal models. Further investigation into TK and CucD as therapeutic options for managing CIPN is warranted.