Adansonia digitata and its use in neuropathic pain: Prostaglandins and beyond

Adansonia digitata (African baobab) is a long-living angiosperm classified as a member of Bombacoideae, a subfamily of Malvaceae. Today, the presence of African baobab tree is documented not only in Africa but also in South America, Asia, and Australia among others. Every part of baobab has been reported to be useful nutritionally or medicinally. The ethnopharmacological use of baobab includes: antimalarial, antidiabetic, analgesic effects, etc. Polyphenols, flavonoids (catechin, vitexin, quercetin, retin, etc.), mono- and poly-unsaturated fatty acids, and organic acids are some of the secondary metabolites identified in A. digitata. Also, potassium and calcium are the most abundant minerals present while the prominent trace elements are zinc and manganese. An increasing number of scientific studies have confirmed baobab analgesic properties. Neuropathic pain mitigation by A. digitata is linked to its flavonoids and mineral constituents. These substances alleviate neuropathic pain by a panoply of mechanisms including the inhibition of NF-κB to suppress inflammation, upregulation of Nrf2 to improve oxidative defense, inhibition of TRPV1 transcript to reduce pain, inhibition of NR2B subunit of NMDA receptor to suppress pain, and interaction of appropriate ion component like zinc with NR2A subunit of NMDA receptors to cause decrease transmission of pain signals, which together result to pain-relieving effects.