Mitragynine, bioactive alkaloid of kratom, reduces chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain in rats through α-adrenoceptor mechanism

•Adrenergic profile of kratom alkaloid mitragynine was characterized.•Mitragynine reduced chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain.•Yohimbine inhibited anti-allodynic efficacy of mitragynine.•Prazosin and naltrexone reduced anti-allodynic efficacy of mitragynine.•Mitragynine anti-allodynic efficacy depended on α-adrenoceptor activity. Kratom is a coffee-like plant containing compounds that cause opioid and stimulant effects. The most prevalent bioactive alkaloid of kratom is mitragynine (MG). Opioid effects of MG are apparent (e.g. antinociception and nanomolar affinity for μ, κ and δ opioid receptors), but effects encompassing interactions with additional systems, such as adrenergic and dopaminergic, remain undefined. Given that enhanced adrenergic transmission is a mechanism common to most first-line neuropathic pain medications, we tested the hypothesis that MG reduces chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain through a mechanism involving α-adrenoceptor activation. Rats were injected once with oxaliplatin (6 mg/kg IP) to induce allodynia and then treated with MG (0, 1, 5, 10 mg/kg IP) for 5–7 days. To investigate receptor mechanisms, a fixed dose of MG (5 mg/kg IP) was injected with yohimbine (5 mg/kg IP, α2-adrenoceptor antagonist), prazosin (5 mg/kg IP, α1-adrenoceptor antagonist), or naltrexone (5 mg/kg IP, opioid antagonist). MG (5, 10 mg/kg) dose-dependently reduced mechanical sensitivity in oxaliplatin-injected rats. Anti-allodynic effects of MG were completely inhibited by yohimbine, and significantly reduced by prazosin and naltrexone. MG produced modest hyperlocomotion but only at a dose (30 mg/kg) higher than those required to reduce allodynia. The finding that MG reduced neuropathic pain through a mechanism requiring active α-adrenoceptors indicates that the pharmacological profile of MG includes activation of adrenergic, as well as opioid, systems.