Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
Iran J Basic Med Sci. 2013 Jan;16(1):83-90.
OBJECTIVE(S): Crocin is a constituent of saffron and has many biological functions. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of intraperitoneal (IP) injection of crocin on sciatic nerve regeneration in male Wistar rats.
Fifty-four rats were divided into 9 groups: groups 1-4 (intact + normal saline and intact + crocin at doses of 5, 20 and 80 mg/kg, respectively); group 5 (sham surgery + normal saline); groups 6-9 (crush + normal saline and crush + crocin at doses of 5, 20 and 80 mg/kg, respectively). Normal saline and crocin were IP injected for 10 consecutive days after induction of a standard crush injury in left sciatic nerve. Footprints were obtained 1 day before and weekly after induction of nerve injury for evaluation of sciatic functional index (SFI). Blood samples were taken for evaluation of malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Histopathological changes of sciatic nerve were investigated by light microscopy.
Sciatic nerve crush-injured rats showed SFI values reduction, increased plasma MDA levels and produced Wallerian degeneration in sciatic nerve. Crocin at a dose of 5 mg/kg had no significant effects. At doses of 20 and 80 mg/kg, crocin accelerated the SFI recovery, decreased MDA levels and reduced Wallerian degeneration severity.
The present study suggests that the neuroprotective effects afforded by crocin may be due in part to reduction of free radicals-induced toxic effects.
西红花苷是西红花的一种成分，具有多种生物学功能。本研究旨在探讨腹腔内（IP）注射西红花苷对雄性 Wistar 大鼠坐骨神经再生的影响。
54 只大鼠分为 9 组：1-4 组（完整+生理盐水和完整+西红花苷剂量分别为 5、20 和 80mg/kg）；5 组（假手术+生理盐水）；6-9 组（挤压+生理盐水和挤压+西红花苷剂量分别为 5、20 和 80mg/kg）。在诱导左侧坐骨神经标准挤压伤后，连续 10 天 IP 注射生理盐水和西红花苷。在神经损伤诱导前 1 天和每周采集足迹，评估坐骨神经功能指数（SFI）。采集血样，评估丙二醛（MDA）水平。通过光镜观察坐骨神经的组织病理学变化。
坐骨神经挤压损伤大鼠的 SFI 值降低，血浆 MDA 水平升高，坐骨神经发生 Wallerian 变性。西红花苷 5mg/kg 剂量无明显作用。20 和 80mg/kg 剂量时，西红花苷加速 SFI 恢复，降低 MDA 水平，减轻 Wallerian 变性程度。
本研究表明，西红花苷的神经保护作用部分归因于减少自由基诱导的毒性作用。
