Composition for prevention, alleviation, or treatment of peripheral neuropathy comprising lithospermi radix extract as an effective component

Abstract

A composition comprising a Lithospermi Radix extract as an effective component prevents, alleviates, or treats peripheral neuropathy, in particular, peripheral neuropathy induced by an anti-cancer agent (i.e., chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy). A method for preventing or treating peripheral neuropathy includes administering to a subject in need thereof the composition. The Lithospermi Radix extract can relieve the suppressed growth of neurites caused by an anti-cancer agent while neither inducing any cytotoxicity in normal cells nor changing the unique cytotoxic potential of an anti-cancer agent in human cancer cells. In addition, the Lithospermi Radix extract can efficiently lower the enhanced sensitivity to painful stimuli in peripheral neuropathic animals induced by an anti-cancer agent. Thus, the Lithospermi Radix extract can be advantageously used as an effective component of a composition for prevention, alleviation, or treatment of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.