The present study was designed to investigate the potential of aliskiren, a 
direct renin inhibitor, in chronic constriction injury (CCI)-induced neuropathic 
pain in rats. Neuropathic pain was induced by placing four loose ligatures 
around the sciatic nerve. Acetone drop, von Frey hair, pin-prick and hot plate 
tests were performed to assess cold allodynia, mechanical allodynia, mechanical 
and heat hyperalgesia, respectively. The levels of Tumor necrosis factor-alpha 
(TNF-α) were measured in the sciatic nerve as an inflammatory marker. CCI was 
associated with the development of cold allodynia, mechanical allodynia, 
mechanical and heat hyperalgesia along with a rise in the levels of Tumor 
necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Administration of aliskiren (25 or 50 mg/kg 
intraperitoneal (i.p.)) for 14 days in CCI-subjected rats significantly 
attenuated CCI-induced pain-related behavior and rise in TNF-α level. It may be 
concluded that aliskiren-mediated anti-inflammatory actions may be responsible 
for its beneficial effects in neuropathic pain in rats.