Neuroregenerative effects of cardamonin in a rat model of sciatic nerve crush injury

Peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs) cause motor and sensory dysfunction. This study assessed cardamonin's effectiveness in enhancing sciatic nerve regeneration and functional recovery in a rat model of nerve crush injury.

Male rats underwent unilateral sciatic nerve crush and received graded doses of cardamonin (5, 10, 20 mg/kg). The study also included a Sham surgery and a Crush control group. Motor function was assessed with the Sciatic Functional Index (SFI) and sensory function using the Hargreaves test. Electrophysiological measurements, including compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude and nerve conduction velocity (NCV), were recorded at 8 weeks. Histomorphometric analyses of nerve and gastrocnemius muscle were performed, along with quantification of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, neurotrophic factors, and apoptosis markers 7 days post-injury. .

Cardamonin treatment significantly improved motor (SFI) and sensory recovery in a dose-dependent manner compared to crush controls (p < 0.001). CMAP and NCV also improved significantly with cardamonin treatment (p < 0.001). Histological evaluation revealed partial restoration of myelin thickness, axon and fiber diameter, and an increase in fiber number (p < 0.01). Cardamonin reduced muscle atrophy and collagen deposition (p < 0.001). Pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α were significantly attenuated, while anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and TGF-β, and neurotrophic factors NGF, BDNF, and NT-3 were upregulated dose-dependently (p < 0.05). Caspase-3, -8, and -9 activities were markedly reduced (p < 0.05).

Cardamonin promotes peripheral nerve regeneration and functional recovery after sciatic nerve crush injury through anti-inflammatory, neurotrophic, and anti-apoptotic effects.