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BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies

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Open Access 01-12-2021 | Nerve Injury | Research article

Effect of herbal extracts on peripheral nerve regeneration after microsurgery of the sciatic nerve in rats

Authors: Young Jun Kim, Kyu Jin Kim, Jae Hoon Lee, Seong-Uk Park, Seung-Yeon Cho

Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Background

Recent experimental studies using herbal extracts have shown the possibility of peripheral nerve regeneration. This study aimed to investigate the effects of herbal extracts on peripheral nerve regeneration in a rat sciatic nerve injury model.

Methods

A total of 53 rats were randomly assigned to a control group or one of four experimental groups. In all rats, the sciatic nerve was completely severed and microscopic epineural end-to-end neurorrhaphy was performed. Normal saline (2 mL) was topically applied to the site of nerve repair in the control group, whereas four different herbal extracts – 2 mL each of Astragalus mongholicus Bunge, Coptis japonica (Thunb.) Makino, Aconitum carmichaelii Debeaux, or Paeonia lactiflora Pall. – were topically applied to the site of nerve repair in each experimental group. Nerve conduction studies were performed at an average of 11.9 weeks after the operation, and conduction velocity and proximal and distal amplitudes were measured. Biopsies were performed at an average of 13.2 weeks after the initial neurorrhaphy. The quality of nerve anastomosis and perineural adhesion to the surrounding soft tissues was macroscopically evaluated. The neuroma size at the site of the neurorrhaphy was microscopically measured, whereas the size of the scar tissue was evaluated relative to the diameter of the repaired nerve.

Results

The nerve conduction study results showed the highest nerve conduction velocity in the experimental group that used the Coptis japonica (Thunb.) Makino extract and the highest proximal and distal amplitudes in the experimental group that used the Aconitum carmichaelii Debeaux extract. Macroscopic evaluations after the second operation showed that grade 2 perineural adhesion was found in 70.8% of rats. The mean neuroma size in the Coptis japonica (Thunb.) Makino, Aconitum carmichaelii Debeaux, and Paeonia lactiflora Pall. groups showed statistically significant decreases relative to the control group. The mean scar tissue formation index in the Paeonia lactiflora Pall. group showed a statistically significant decrease relative to the control group.

Conclusions

The peripheral nerve regeneration effect of the herbal extracts was confirmed through decreased neuroma and scar tissue formation.

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Title: Effect of herbal extracts on peripheral nerve regeneration after microsurgery of the sciatic nerve in rats
Authors: Young Jun Kim
Kyu Jin Kim
Jae Hoon Lee
Seong-Uk Park
Seung-Yeon Cho
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keywords: Nerve Injury
Nerve Suture
Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 2662-7671
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-021-03335-w

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Effect of herbal extracts on peripheral nerve regeneration after microsurgery of the sciatic nerve in rats

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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