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Jasmonic acid (JA), cytokinins (CK), gibberellins (GA), abscisic acid (ABA), ethylene (ET), and salicylic acid (SA) are potent plant stress hormones (phytohormones/PTH). Methyl jasmonate (MeJA), a volatile ester of JA, is derived from the petals of Jasminum grandiflorum (jasmine). The MeJA has been meticulously confirmed for its food, agricultural, and therapeutic uses in the treatment of a range of serious illnesses. Several scientific articles have studied and reported on the role of free radicals in the development of life-threatening clinical illnesses. The inflammatory signaling pathway is triggered by a weak or interfering endogenous antioxidant system, or the elaborated production of free radicals, which causes damage to key cellular components. The current chapter focused on and demonstrated MeJA’s multifunctional role in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory signaling mechanisms such as inhibition of NF-B (nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK or MAP kinase) pathway inhibition/down-regulation of pro-inflammatory mediators (IL, TNF-), cyclo-oxygenase (COX), and (LOX). The antioxidant effect of MeJA’s interaction with miRNA, transcription of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related 2 (Nfr2), activation of sirtuins (SIRTs), antioxidant and redox signaling pathway were also discussed in the chapter.

Despite the availability of multiple therapeutic agents, the search for novel pain management of neuropathic pain is still a challenge. Oxidative stress and inflammatory signaling are prominently involved in clinical manifestation of neuropathic pain. Toxicodendron pubescens, popularly known as Rhus Tox (RT) is recommended in alternative medicines as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic remedy. Earlier, we reported anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic and immunomodulatory activities of Rhus Tox. In continuation, we evaluated antinociceptive efficacy of Rhus Tox in the neuropathic pain and delineated its underlying mechanism. Initially, in-vitro assay using LPS-mediated ROS-induced U-87 glioblastoma cells was performed to study the effect of Rhus Tox on reactive oxygen species (ROS), anti-oxidant status and cytokine profile. Rhus Tox decreased oxidative stress and cytokine release with restoration of anti-oxidant systems. Chronic treatment with Rhus Tox ultra dilutions for 14 days ameliorated neuropathic pain revealed as inhibition of cold, warm and mechanical allodynia along with improved motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) in constricted nerve. Rhus Tox decreased the oxidative and nitrosative stress by reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) content, respectively along with up regulated glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activity in sciatic nerve of rats. Notably, Rhus Tox treatment caused significant reductions in the levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) as compared with CCI-control group. Protective effect of Rhus Tox against CCI-induced sciatic nerve injury in histopathology study was exhibited through maintenance of normal nerve architecture and inhibition of inflammatory changes. Overall, neuroprotective effect of Rhus Tox in CCI-induced neuropathic pain suggests the involvement of anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory mechanisms.