Turkish Neurosurgery 2015 , Vol 25 , Num 3
Biochemical and Histopathological Effects of Catechin on Experimental Peripheral Nerve Injuries
Ali Erdem YILDIRIM1, Ali DALGIC1, Denizhan DIVANLIOGLU1, Rifat AKDAG2, Nuri Eralp CETINALP3, Fatih ALAGOZ1, Fatma HELVACIOGLU4, Gulnur TAKE5, Yahya GUVENC6, Ismet KOKSAL7, Ahmed Deniz BELEN1
1Ankara Numune Research and Education Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Ankara, Turkey
2Bursa Sevket Yilmaz Education and Research Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Bursa, Turkey
3Cukurova University Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Adana, Turkey
4Baskent University Hospital, Department of Histology and Embryology, Ankara, Turkey
5Gazi University Hospital, Department of Histology and Embryology, Ankara, Turkey
6Sincan State Hospital, Department of Neuorusurgery, Ankara, Turkey
7Yenimahalle State Hospital, Department of Ortophedia, Ankara, Turkey
DOI : 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.12852-14.2 AIM: Catechin is a type of polyphenol, along with epicatechin, epigallocatechin, and epigallocatechin-gallate (EGCG). This study aims to investigate the effect of EGCG, a major metabolite of catechin, which is the principle bioactive compound in green tea, on rats with peripheral nerve injury.

MATERIAL and METHODS: A total of 74 rats were divided into six groups, namely the control, the trauma, the normal saline, a 25mg/kg EGCG, a 50mg/kg EGCG and a daily consumption group (10mg/kg EGCG was given intraperitoneally for 14 days before the trauma). Except the first group, the other groups underwent a 1-minute sciatic nerve compression by clip with 50gr/cm2 pressure. Nerve samples were obtained at 28 day after trauma for the biochemical and histopathological analysis.

RESULTS: Our study showed that the Daily consumption, 25mg/kg EGCG and 50mg/kg EGCG groups demonstrated statistically significant decreased lipid peroxidation levels and particularly daily consumption, and the 25mg/kg EGCG group showed a favourable reduction of degeneration and edema histologically.

CONCLUSION: This study shows that Catechin and its derivatives have a protective effect on peripheral nerve injury. Keywords : Axonal degeneration, Epigallocatechin-gallate, Electron microscope, Light microscope, Lipid peroxidation, Peripheral nerve injury

Corresponding author : Ali Erdem Yıldırım, alierdemyildirim@gmail.com