Evaluation of the Antioxidant Potentials of Caffeine on Pain Hypersensitivity in Wistar Rats Following Repetitive Pain Stimulation

The study evaluated the antioxidant potentials of caffeine on pain hypersensitivity in Wistar rats following repetitive pain stimulation. The study design consist of three phases of drug administration, short term 14days, intermediate phase 63 days and long term 105 days, with the treatment groups as follows caffeine (low 10mg/kg, high 15mg/kg). Morphine (low 5mg/kg, high 10kg/kg) and their combination. Pain hypersensitivity was measured using tail immersion and analgesy-meter tests. The brain tissues of the rats was harvested and analyzed for antioxidant potentials using glutathione peroxidase 1, catalase, glutathione and superoxide dismutase levels were assayed. Using sigma-aldrich kits. The biochemical assays were conducted in the biochemistry department of the University of Port Harcourt. The results from the study demonstrated pain attenuating potential of caffeine in a dose depended manner. And also the study demonstrated a consistent increase in antioxidant effect in both the caffeine and morphine groups in a dose depended manner with the high dose having the highest effect. And also the coadministration groups there were a consistent antioxidant effects. The therapeutic effect of caffeine and morphine is linked to their antioxidant potentials and as such caffeine is a good adjuvant to opioid in the management of pain.