Effect of Oat (Avena Sativa L.) Extract on Experimental Sciatic Nerve Injury in Rats

Peripheral nerve disorders are the most common neurological problems; therefore, it is important to intervene to treat or stop the resulting side effects. This study aimed to investigate the effect of oat extract on experimental sciatic nerve injury in rats. Totally, 50 adult male rats were divided into five groups (n=10). Group 1 was exposed to sham condition, and group 2 was regarded as the control group (nerve injury without treatment). Moreover, groups 3-5 were subjected to sciatic nerve injury, and they received oral gavages of the oat extract (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg), respectively. Subsequently, 2 and 4 weeks later, the rats were euthanized for pathological evaluation of nerve repair. The results showed an increase in the formation of the perineurium and epineurium dose in the oat-treated groups (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg), compared to the control group after 2 weeks (P<0.05). Furthermore, the presence of inflammatory cells in the oat extract-treated groups (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) decreased, compared to that in the control group after 2 weeks (P<0.05). In addition, the swelling of the axon significantly decreased in the oat extract-treated groups (200 and 400 mg/kg), compared to the control group (P<0.05). However, the axon dose-dependently increased in oat-treated groups (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg), compared to that in the control group after 4 weeks (P<0.05). These results suggest that oat extract has positive effects on sciatic nerve repair in rats.

Keywords: Oat extract; Rat; Sciatic nerve injury.