Protective effect of safflower oil supplementation on sciatic nerve crush injury in rats

This study aimed to assess the effect of safflower oil (SO), a high-quality edible oil derived from seeds of Carthamus tinctorius L. possessing multiple bioactivities, on rats that underwent sciatic nerve crush (SNC) to induce peripheral nerve injury (PNI).

Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups with 10 mice in each group: sham, SNC model, SNC + SO 100 mg/kg, and SNC + SO 300 mg/kg. The sciatic function index (SFI) was monitored for evaluation of sciatic nerve function. Bilateral gastrocnemius muscles were isolated to measure the gastrocnemius muscle mass ratio. Tissue sections of sciatic nerve and gastrocnemius muscle were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histopathological observations. The levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and expression of myelin basic protein(MBP) and β₃-tubulin were detected in damaged nerves.

SO supplementation increased the SFI scores, improved the histopathological features of damaged nerves, and enhanced muscle mass and fiber diameters of affected gastrocnemius muscle in SNC rats. SNC-enhanced levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and MDA in damaged nerves were reduced, while SNC-inhibited SOD activity was increased by SO supplementation. Nerve expression of MBP and β₃-tubulin was upregulated in SO-supplemented SNC rats.

Date suggested that SO could improve nerve function, attenuate neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, and might accelerate peripheral nerve regeneration after injury in SNC rats, thus being a promising dietary adjuvant for PNI treatment.