6 - Neuroprotective Effects of Different Polarity Fractions from Allium Cepa on Experimental Model of Nerve Crush Injury

Poster Board Number: 6
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Odd poster #s – first hour
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Co-authors:

Abrar Almutairi, BPharm, MSc - Pharmacist, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Kuwait University - College of Pharmacy; Khalid Orabi, BPharm (Hons), PhD (Hons) - Professor, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Kuwait University - College of Pharmacy

Abstract Body : Introduction. Allium cepa (onion) has a broad range of pharmacological effects. Recently, attention has been focused on its neuroprotective activity. These effects are mainly attributed to its nonpolar thiosulfinates and polar flavonoids including quercetin (QC). Methods. Onion bulbs were extracted in 80% ethanol. The extract was dried, dissolved in water and, then fractionated with n-hexane and ethyl acetate to obtain three fractions with different polarities; low (LPF), intermediate (IPF) and high polar fractions (HPF). Wistar rats were randomly assigned into six groups; Sham, Crush, Crush+LPF, Crush+IPF, Crush+HPF and Crush+QC, which underwent sciatic nerve injury, followed by treatment with 50mg/kg i.p. for 3 weeks, then sacrificed at the end of week 4. The neurobehavioral (motor and sensory) outcomes were assessed. Urine and serum samples were collected before the sacrifice to examine the oxidative stress markers; total antioxidant capacity (TAS), 8-isoprostane (8-IP), and total oxidant status (TOS). Results. Following sciatic nerve injury, all treatment groups produced a significant recovery in sensory and motor functions when compared to the crush group. The most significant improvement in hopping, foot position, toe spread, and rotarod tests was produced by HPF and QC groups. Additionally, the QC group showed the most significant recovery in hot plate, tail-flick and paw pressure tests. Also, sciatic nerve injury produced oxidative stress characterized by a decreased serum TAS and increased urine TOS and 8-IP. Treatments alleviated the crush-induced oxidative stress as compared to the crush group. QC and IPF groups produced the highest increase in TAS. The LPF and IPF groups produced the lowest 8-IP concentration and the QC group produced the lowest TOS. Conclusion. All Allium cepa fractions and QC reduced sensory and motor neurobehavioral impairments with the best results produced with HPF and QC. Also, treatments alleviated the crush-induced oxidative stress markers.