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The Effects and Mechanisms of Phytochemicals on Pain Management and Analgesic

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Phytochemicals and Human Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 June 2025 | Viewed by 7079

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Sara Ilari

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy
Interests: antioxidants; acute pain; chronic pain; oxidative stress; biomarker; mitochondria; polyphenols; natural antioxidants; synthetic antioxidants; nutraceuticals
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Medicinal plants are considered an important source of new chemical substances with therapeutic effects. Therefore, research on plants with putative uses as analgesics should be focused on as a strategy to identify new analgesic drugs. Historically, medicinal plants have been used to treat and prevent diseases, and natural antioxidants have recently contributed to developing new drugs for managing chronic pain, including neuropathic pain. The aim of this Special Issue is to examine the role of phytochemicals in pain management and analgesics by analyzing their mechanisms of action, therapeutic efficacy and potential clinical use.

Dr. Sara Ilari
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • chemical substance
  • natural antioxidants
  • metabolism
  • pain
  • nutraceuticals
  • phytochemicals
  • oxidative stress
  • pain biomarker

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 609 KiB  
Article
Diet Quality and Dietary Intake in Breast Cancer Survivors Suffering from Chronic Pain: An Explorative Case-Control Study
by Sevilay Tümkaya Yılmaz, Ömer Elma, Jo Nijs, Peter Clarys, Iris Coppieters, Tom Deliens, Patrick Calders, Eline Naert and Anneleen Malfliet
Nutrients 2024, 16(22), 3844; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16223844 - 9 Nov 2024
Viewed by 2047
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Dietary factors may significantly influence pain management in cancer survivors. However, a substantial gap exists regarding the relationship between nutrition and chronic pain in this population. This study examined differences in diet quality and dietary intake between breast cancer survivors (BCS) experiencing [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Dietary factors may significantly influence pain management in cancer survivors. However, a substantial gap exists regarding the relationship between nutrition and chronic pain in this population. This study examined differences in diet quality and dietary intake between breast cancer survivors (BCS) experiencing chronic pain and healthy controls (HC). It also aimed to understand the associations between dietary elements and pain-related outcomes within the BCS group. Methods: A case-control study was conducted with 12 BCS experiencing chronic pain and 12 HC (ages 18–65). Data collection included body composition, experimental pain assessments, pain-related questionnaires, and a 3-day food diary to calculate diet quality using the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015) and Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII). Statistical analyses evaluated group differences and associations between dietary factors and pain within the BCS group. Results: There were no significant differences in HEI-2015 scores between BCS and HC, but BCS had a significantly lower DII score (p = 0.041), indicating a more anti-inflammatory diet. BCS also showed higher intake of omega-3, vitamins B6, B12, A, D, and magnesium (p < 0.05). While total diet quality scores did not correlate with pain outcomes, several HEI-2015 and DII components, such as dairy, sodium, protein, vitamin C, and vitamin D, showed moderate positive or negative correlations with pain measures. Conclusions: Despite no overall differences in diet quality, BCS with chronic pain consumed more anti-inflammatory nutrients than HC. Complex correlations between specific dietary components and pain outcomes emphasise the need for further research to explore these links for chronic pain management in BCS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects and Mechanisms of Phytochemicals on Pain Management and Analgesic)
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Review

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11 pages, 204 KiB  
Review
The Effects and Mechanisms of Phytochemicals on Pain Management and Analgesic
by Milan Patel, Sayed Wahezi, Philippe Mavrocordatos and Alaa Abd-Elsayed
Nutrients 2025, 17(4), 633; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17040633 - 11 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1096
Abstract
Phytochemicals can be an essential treatment for chronic pain. This narrative review will summarize and critically analyze the evidence surrounding these substances in pain management. We will introduce phytochemicals, discuss their associated mechanisms, and comment on their viability for potential treatment. There have [...] Read more.
Phytochemicals can be an essential treatment for chronic pain. This narrative review will summarize and critically analyze the evidence surrounding these substances in pain management. We will introduce phytochemicals, discuss their associated mechanisms, and comment on their viability for potential treatment. There have been decades of research on phytochemical therapies for pain management, but the authors limited the scope of the investigation to the last 25 years. This literature review will serve as a foundation for the pain practitioner to understand where these treatments fit in the paradigm for chronic pain treatment. Assess the integration of phytochemicals within pain management fully. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects and Mechanisms of Phytochemicals on Pain Management and Analgesic)
18 pages, 4432 KiB  
Review
Traditional Uses, Bioactive Compounds, and New Findings on Pharmacological, Nutritional, Cosmetic and Biotechnology Utility of Capsella bursa-pastoris
by Aleksandra Łukaszyk, Inga Kwiecień and Agnieszka Szopa
Nutrients 2024, 16(24), 4390; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16244390 - 20 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1507
Abstract
Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik. (shepherd’s purse) is a medicinal plant recently introduced to European Pharmacopoeia. The main active compounds responsible for the activity profile of the raw material are flavonoids, phenolic acids, amino acids, phytosterols, vitamins and bioelements. This species is known for [...] Read more.
Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik. (shepherd’s purse) is a medicinal plant recently introduced to European Pharmacopoeia. The main active compounds responsible for the activity profile of the raw material are flavonoids, phenolic acids, amino acids, phytosterols, vitamins and bioelements. This species is known for its properties supporting the functioning of the digestive system and antihemorrhagic properties in the ethnomedicine of Far Eastern countries. Modern research confirms these directions of activity. Additionally, the latest studies prove the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, acetylcholinesterase and anticancer properties and supportive action in the treatment of gynecological diseases. Shepherd’s purse herb also has a strong position as an edible plant due to the growing interest in this plant as “healthy food”. The protective, softening, antibacterial and antioxidant properties of sprout and herb extracts are useful in the production of modern cosmetics. Moreover, C. bursa-pastoris is valuable thanks to phytoremediation properties and the numerous practical uses in biotechnology for the creation of new resistant varieties of crop plants from the Brassicaceae family. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects and Mechanisms of Phytochemicals on Pain Management and Analgesic)
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18 pages, 3240 KiB  
Review
The Role of Phytochemicals in Managing Neuropathic Pain: How Much Progress Have We Made?
by Aleksandar Sic, Aarish Manzar and Nebojsa Nick Knezevic
Nutrients 2024, 16(24), 4342; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16244342 - 16 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1822
Abstract
Neuropathic pain is a complex and debilitating condition resulting from nerve damage, characterized by sensations such as burning, tingling, and shooting pain. It is often associated with conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), and diabetic polyneuropathy. Conventional pain therapies frequently [...] Read more.
Neuropathic pain is a complex and debilitating condition resulting from nerve damage, characterized by sensations such as burning, tingling, and shooting pain. It is often associated with conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), and diabetic polyneuropathy. Conventional pain therapies frequently provide limited relief and are accompanied by significant side effects, emphasizing the need to explore alternative treatment options. Phytochemicals, which are bioactive compounds derived from plants, have gained attention for their potential in neuropathic pain management due to their diverse pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects. This review evaluates the mechanisms by which specific phytochemicals, such as curcumin, resveratrol, and capsaicin, influence neuropathic pain pathways, particularly their role in modulating inflammatory processes, reducing oxidative stress, and interacting with ion channels and signaling pathways. While curcumin and resveratrol are primarily considered dietary supplements, their roles in managing neuropathic pain require further clinical investigation to establish their efficacy and safety. In contrast, capsaicin is an active ingredient derived from chili peppers that has been developed into approved topical treatments widely used for managing neuropathic and musculoskeletal pain. However, not all phytochemicals have demonstrated consistent efficacy in managing neuropathic pain, and their effects can vary depending on the compound and the specific condition. The pathophysiology of neuropathic pain, involving maladaptive changes in the somatosensory nervous system, peripheral and central sensitization, and glial cell activation, is also outlined. Overall, this review emphasizes the need for continued high-quality clinical studies to fully establish the therapeutic potential of phytochemicals in neuropathic pain management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects and Mechanisms of Phytochemicals on Pain Management and Analgesic)
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