protective effect of crocus sativus l. (saffron) extract on spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats

objective(s): ischemia/reperfusion (i/r) injury of spinal cord is leading to the paraplegia observed. in this study, we investigated the protective effect of the saffron extract on spinal cord i/r injury. materials and methods: thirty five male sprague-dawley rats were divided into 5 groups: intact, sham surgery, normal saline (ns), low dose saffron aqua extract, high dose saffron aqua extract. results: the mean motor deficit index (mdi) scores were significantly lower in the saffron extract groups than in the ns group at 48 hr after spinal cord ischemia (p<0.001). saffron extract groups significantly decreased plasma level of malondialdehyde than in the ns group (p<0.05). the number of motor normal neurons was significantly greater in the high saffron extract group than in the ns and low saffron group (p<0.05). conclusion: these data suggest that a saffron extract may protect spinal cord neurons from i/r injury.