Table 4.

Preclinical studies showing anti-neuroinflammatory and/or neuroprotective effects of palmitoylethanolamide

Model	Action	References
Compression model of spinal cord trauma in mice	Reduces spinal inflammation/tissue injury, ameliorates recovery of motor limb function Limits mast cell infiltration and activation; reduces activation of microglia and astrocytes	147,148
Traumatic brain injury in mice	Reduces edema and infarct size Improves neurobehavioural functions	149
MPTP mouse model of Parkinson's disease	Protects against MPTP-induced neurotoxicity, microglial and astrocyte activation, and functional deficits	150
Stroke (middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats)	Reduces oedema and infarct size Improves neurobehavioural functions	151
β-Amyloid peptide injection in rat brain	Counteracts reactive gliosis Reduces behaviour impairments	152
Chronic constriction injury in sciatic nerve	Anti-allodynic and anti-hyperalgesic effects Reduces mast cell activation Preservation of nerve structural integrity	153–155
Acute inflammation (formalin, dextran, carrageenan injection in rat hindpaw)	Reduces mast cell activation, tissue oedema, inflammatory/mechanical hyperalgesia	156–161
WAG/Rij rat model of absence epilepsy	Anti-epileptic action	162

MPTP, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine.