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- Title
Anti-pruritic effect of L-carnitine against chloroquine-induced pruritus mediated via nitric oxide pathway.
- Authors
Seemab, Kiran; Khan, Arif-ullah; Khan, Muhammad Imran; Qazi, Neelum Gul; Minhas, Amber Mahmood; Ali, Fawad
- Abstract
Background: Pruritus, or itching, is a distressing symptom associated with various dermatological and systemic diseases. L-carnitine (βeta hydroxy-γ-tri methyl amino-butyric acid), is a naturally occurring substance, it controls numerous physiological processes. The present research aims to identify L-carnitine for its anti-pruritic effect via nitric oxide-dependent mechanism. Methods: Chloroquine-induced pruritus serves as an experimental model to investigate possible therapeutic interventions. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of L-carnitine in combating oxidative stress, nitric oxide, and inflammatory cytokines in a chloroquine-induced pruritus model. Results: L-carnitine treatment significantly reduced scratching behavior compared to the disease group (***P < 0.001 vs. chloroquine group), indicating its antipruritic potential. The markers of oxidative stress, GST, GSH, Catalase, and LPO were dysregulated in the disease model, but administration of L-carnitine restored GST, GSH, and Catalase levels and decreased LPO levels (***P < 0.001 vs. chloroquine group), thereby alleviating oxidative stress. L-carnitine also reduced nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity, suggesting that it modulates nitric oxide signaling pathways involved in pruritus. In addition, L-carnitine lowered levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), inflammatory marker nuclear factor kappa B (p-NFκB) and also reduces an inflammatory enzyme, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), determined by ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) (***P < 0.001 vs. chloroquine group). It downregulates nNOS mRNA expression confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Conclusion: These findings highlight the therapeutic effects of L-carnitine in alleviating chloroquine-induced pruritus.
- Subjects
CARNITINE; NITRIC oxide; TUMOR necrosis factors; ITCHING; ENZYME-linked immunosorbent assay; NF-kappa B
- Publication
BMC Pharmacology & Toxicology, 2024, Vol 25, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
2050-6511
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1186/s40360-024-00748-4