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Effects of quercetin on chronic constriction nerve injury in an experimental rat model

  • Experimental Research - Functional
  • Published:
Acta Neurochirurgica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Flavonoids are popular substances in the literature, with proven effects on cardiovascular, neoplastic and neurodegenerative diseases. Antioxidant effect is the most pronounced and studied one. Among thousands of flavonoids, quercetin (QUE) is a prototype with significant antioxidant effects. This study aims to demonstrate the effects of QUE in an experimental rat model of chronic constriction injury (CCI).

Method

A two-level study was designed with 42 adult Wistar rats that were randomly assigned to different groups. In the first part, animals in sham, control, quercetin, morphine and gabapentine groups received chronic constriction injury to their sciatic nerves and received a single dose of QUE, morphine and gabapentine. In the second part, different dose regimens of QUE were administered to different groups of animals. Pre-injury and post-injury assessments for mechanical hypersensitivity, thermal sensitivity, locomotor activity and anxiety were recorded and statistical comparisons were performed between different groups.

Results

Comparison of QUE with morphine and gabapentine has revealed significant effects of this agent in the current chronic constriction injury model. QUE was significantly superior to Gabapentine and morphine in terms of alleviating mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity. Additionally, pre-injury administration of QUE for 4 days demonstrated long-term effectiveness on mechanical hypersensitivity.

Conclusions

This preliminary report the on effects of QUE in a chronic constriction injury model proved significant effects of the agent, which should be supplemented with different studies using different dose regimens.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Başkent University, Adana, Turkey

    Soner Çivi

  2. Deparment of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey

    Gökçen Emmez

  3. Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey

    Ümit Akın Dere, Alp Özgün Börcek & Hakan Emmez

  4. Neuropsychiatry Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey

    Alp Özgün Börcek & Hakan Emmez

Authors
  1. Soner Çivi
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  2. Gökçen Emmez
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  3. Ümit Akın Dere
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  4. Alp Özgün Börcek
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  5. Hakan Emmez
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alp Özgün Börcek.

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Funding

No funding was received for this research.

Conflicts of interest

None.

Animal experiments

All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed. All procedures performed in studies involving animals were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institution or practice at which the studies were conducted.

Financial disclosure

None of the authors has a financial interest in any of the products, devices, or drugs mentioned in this manuscript.

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Comment

An interesting animal study that demonstrates that a flavonoid, quercitin, when systemically administered could favorably influence the presumed alodynia and hypersensitivity that follows a chronic constrictive injury applied to the rat sciatic nerve. The data is believable. As the authors point out, numerous mechanisms are possible and have as of yet to be determined. The effect of quercitin relies on administering the agent at and/or before the time of nerve injury and not afterwards, which limits its clinical applicability. Nevertheless, the results are interesting and deserve follow-up studies.

Michel Kliot

Illinois, USA

The authors have evaluated the effect of Quercetin, a naturally occurring flavinol with anti-oxidant properties on a well-studied neuropathic pain model in rats. Quercetin administered and shortly after the injury and 3 weeks later led to a significant attenuation of chronic pain related behavior. Curiously, treating the rats prior to sciatic nerve injury with Quercetin had an even more pronounced effect. The findings are intriguing. As the authors point out, various dosage levels and time scales are required in order to obtain a firmer grasp on the potential usefulness of this type of therapy.

Zvi Harry Rappaport

Petah-Tiqva, Israel

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Çivi, S., Emmez, G., Dere, Ü.A. et al. Effects of quercetin on chronic constriction nerve injury in an experimental rat model. Acta Neurochir 158, 959–965 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-016-2761-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-016-2761-0

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