title: Effects of safranal, a constituent of saffron, and vitamin E on nerve functions and histopathology following crush injury of sciatic nerve in rats.
abstract: Safranal is one of the major components of saffron and has many biological effects such as antioxidant property. The present study investigated the effects of safranal on sciatic nerve function after induction of crush injury. We also used of vitamin E as a reference potent antioxidant agent. In anesthetized rats, right sciatic nerve was crushed using a small haemostatic forceps. Functional recovery was assessed using sciatic functional index (SFI). Acetone spray and von Frey filament tests were used for neuropathic pain assay. Histopathological changes including severities of Wallerian degeneration of sciatic nerve and gastrocnemius muscle atrophy were investigated by light microscopy. Blood levels of malodialdehyde (MDA) were also measured. The SFI values were accelerated, cold and mechanical allodynia were suppressed, the severities of Wallerian degeneration and muscular atrophy were improved, and the increased MDA level was reversed with 10 consecutive days intraperitoneal injections of 0.2 and 0.8 mg/kg of safranal and 100 mg/kg of vitamin E. It is concluded that safranal and vitamin E produced same improving effects on crushed-injured sciatic nerve functions. Inhibition of oxidative stress pathway may be involved in improving effects of safranal and vitamin E on functions and histopathology of an injured peripheral nerve.
authors: Division of Physiology, Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia 57153-1177, Iran. Electronic address: etamaddonfard@yahoo.com.
authors: Esmaeal
authors: E
authors: Tamaddonfard
authors: Division of Pathology, Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia 57153-1177, Iran.
authors: Amir Abbas
authors: AA
authors: Farshid
authors: Division of Pathology, Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia 57153-1177, Iran.
authors: Shirin
authors: S
authors: Maroufi
authors: Division of Physiology, Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia 57153-1177, Iran.
authors: Sharare
authors: S
authors: Kazemi-Shojaei
authors: Division of Physiology, Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia 57153-1177, Iran.
authors: Amir
authors: A
authors: Erfanparast
authors: Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia 57153-1177, Iran.
authors: Siamak
authors: S
authors: Asri-Rezaei
authors: Division of Physiology, Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia 57153-1177, Iran.
authors: Mina
authors: M
authors: Taati
authors: Division of Physiology, Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia 57153-1177, Iran.
authors: Milad
authors: M
authors: Dabbaghi
authors: Division of Physiology, Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia 57153-1177, Iran.
authors: Mona
authors: M
authors: Escort
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D027622:Crocus; D053138:Cyclohexenes / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000293:injuries; D020426:Sciatic Neuropathy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013729:Terpenes / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D053138:Cyclohexenes; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013729:Terpenes; D014810:Vitamin E; C087963:safranal
keywords: Oxidative stress; Rats; Safranal; Sciatic nerve function; Vitamin E