Therapeutic role of naringenin to alleviate inflammatory pain

Naringenin is a flavonoid from the flavanone class found mainly in citrus fruits. Its flavonoid structure is responsible for antioxidant activity. Nevertheless, naringenin has a broad range of biological effects beyond antioxidant activity such as analgesic, antiinflammatory, nephroprotective, neuroprotective, and antimicrobial. Evidence supports the analgesic activity of naringenin in a wide range of inflammatory conditions. Mechanistically, naringenin is a pleiotropic molecule that modulates transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, triggers the analgesic pathway nitric oxide (NO)/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)/protein kinase G (PKG)/adenosine triphosphate (ATP)- sensitive K+ channel, reduces leukocyte recruitment, pro-inflammatory cytokines release, and oxidative stress, induces antioxidant response through nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and inhibits transcription factor nuclear factor κB (NFκB) activation. Naringenin analgesic, antioxidant, and antiinflammatory activities are addressed, and also, the modulatory activity of transcription factors and microRNA (miRNA), clinical data and safety, other applications, and agents of interest are covered in this chapter.