Green Tea Polyphenols Promote Functional Recovery from Peripheral Nerve Injury in Rats

The Potential Benefits of Dietary Polyphenols for Peripheral Nerve Regeneration

Peripheral nerves are frequently affected by lesions caused by trauma (work accidents, car incidents, combat injuries) and following surgical procedures (for instance cancer resection), resulting in loss of motor and sensory function with lifelong impairments. Irrespective of the intrinsic capability of the peripheral nervous system for regeneration, spontaneous or surgically supported regeneration is often unsatisfactory with the limited functional success of nerve repair. For this reason, many efforts have been made to improve the regeneration process. Beyond innovative microsurgical methods that, in certain cases, are necessary to repair nerve injuries, different nonsurgical treatment approaches and adjunctive therapies have been investigated to enhance nerve regeneration. One possibility could be taking advantage of a healthy diet or lifestyle and their relation with proper body functions. Over the years, scientific evidence has been obtained on the benefits of the intake of polyphenols or polyphenol-rich foods in humans, highlighting the neuroprotective effects of these compounds in many neurodegenerative diseases. In order to improve the available knowledge about the potential beneficial role of polyphenols in the process of peripheral nerve regeneration, this review assessed the biological effects of polyphenol administration in supporting and promoting the regenerative process after peripheral nerve injury.

Effects of Theranekron and alpha-lipoic acid combined treatment on GAP-43 and Krox-20 gene expressions and inflammation markers in peripheral nerve injury

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) is a major health problem that results in loss of motor and sensory functions. In treatment of PNI, various methods such as anastomosis, nerve grafts, nonneural tissue grafts, and nerve conduits are applied. In the present study, it was aimed to investigate the effects of Theranekron and Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) combined treatment on nerve healing in experimental PNI by using histomorphometric, electron microscopic, immunohistochemical and molecular biological methods. Sixty-two Wistar rats were divided into six groups; the normal control group, sham operation group, experimental control group having a crush type injury with no treatment, Theranekron treatment group, ALA treatment group and Theranekron+ALA combined treatment group. Sciatic nerve tissue samples were obtained on days 1, 7 and 14 following injury in all groups. GAP-43 expression was upregulated in all PNI received groups compared to the control group. Krox-20 expression was downregulated in all groups that received PNI compared to the control group. While intensely positive TNF-α and IL-6 expressions were observed up to the 1st to the 14th day for the experimental control group, these expressions were seen as "weakly positive" in the treatment groups from the 1st day to the 14th day. The number of myelinated fibers was higher in the control and sham operation groups. Additionally, the number of myelinated nerve fibers increased in the combined treatment group. In conclusion, these findings suggest that combined therapy of Theranekron and ALA promotes structural recovery and it should be considered as an effective treatment protocol following PNI.