Flavonoids are secondary metabolites that are widely distributed in plants. These phenolic compounds
are classified into various subgroups based on their structures: flavones, flavonols, isoflavones, flavanones, and
anthocyanins. They are known to perform various pharmacological actions like antioxidant, anti-inflammatory,
anticancer, antimicrobial, antidiabetic and antiallergic, etc. Diabetes is a chronic progressive metabolic disorder
that affects several biochemical pathways and leads to secondary complications such as neuropathy, retinopathy,
nephropathy, and cardiomyopathy. Among them, the management of diabetic neuropathy is one of the major
challenges for physicians as well as the pharmaceutical industries. Naturally occurring flavonoids are extensively
used for the treatment of diabetes and its related complications due to their antioxidant properties. Moreover,
flavonoids inhibit various pathways that are involved in the progression of diabetic neuropathy like the reduction
of oxidative stress, decrease in glycogenolysis, increase glucose utilization, decrease in the formation of advanced
glycation end products, and inhibition of the α-glucosidase enzyme. This review entails current updates on the
therapeutic perspectives of flavonoids in the treatment of neuropathic pain. This manuscript explains the pathological
aspects of neuropathic pain, the chemistry of flavonoids, and their application in amelioration of neuropathic
pain through preclinical studies either alone or in combination with other therapeutic agents.
NAALADase (GCP II) inhibition as a novel therapeutic target for neuropathic pain, diabetic neuropathy, and ALS
