Francesca Uberti

Background: Peripheral neuropathy is caused by a malfunction in the axons and myelin sheaths of peripheral nerves and motor and sensory neurons. In this context, nonpharmacological treatments with antioxidant potential have attracted much attention due to the issues that some conventional pharmaceutical therapy can generate. Most of these treatments contain lipoic acid, but issues have emerged regarding its use. Considering this, the present study evaluated the beneficial effects of nutraceuticals based on Gastrodiae elata dry extract 10:1 or lipoic acid in combination with other substances (such as citicholine, B vitamins, and acetyl L-carnitine). Method: To assess the combination’s absorption and biodistribution and exclude cytotoxicity, its bioavailability was first examined in a 3D intestinal barrier model that replicated oral ingestion. Subsequently, a 3D model of nerve tissue was constructed to investigate the impacts of the new combination on the significant pathways dysregulated in peripheral neuropathy. Results: Our findings show that the novel combination outperformed in initial pain relief response and in recovering the mechanism of nerve healing following Schwann cell injury by successfully crossing the gut barrier and reaching the target site. Conclusion: This article describes a potential alternative nutraceutical approach supporting the effectiveness of combinations with Gastrodiae elata extract in decreasing neuropathy and regulating pain pathways.