Do the small seeds in grapes have the power to alleviate pain? 

They do, according to research findings from Missouri State University biologist Dr. Paul Durham and his team of researchers. Their discovery could change the world of medicine as it relates to pain management.  

In 2009, Durham and his team began studying whether grape seeds can help with pain relief thanks to funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Durham’s lab has focused on understanding the pain signaling pathways involved in migraine and temporomandibular joint disorder, which are prevalent, debilitating orofacial pain diseases, and discovering novel strategies for blocking pain and inflammation.  

Unlocking nature’s potential 

Through their research, they discovered that grape seed extract (GSE) worked incredibly well in blocking pain pathways. 

“We now want to dig deeper to understand how the seed extract blocks pain pathways at the cellular level,” said Durham, a distinguished professor of biology whose research lab is located within the Jordan Valley Innovation Center at MSU. 

With an additional $425,000 from the NIH, Durham and his team will be able to continue their studies over the next three years.   

“The continued funding will enable deeper exploration of cellular mechanisms,” Durham said. “The goal is to combine GSE, a nutraceutical, with Baclofen, a pharmaceutical, to enhance efficacy while minimizing side effects.” 

The researchers will focus on studying the effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), an inflammatory agent, and GSE, an anti-inflammatory agent, on the GABAergic pathways. These pathways are responsible for quieting our nerve cells and hence reduce pain and inflammation in our head and face.  

“We want to determine if combining GSE with Baclofen will be an effective strategy to enhance the therapeutic benefit of Baclofen while reducing the unwanted side effects of this drug since both work by modulating the GABAergic system,” Durham said.