%0 Journal Article %T Protective effect of Crocus sativus L. (Saffron) extract on spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats %J Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences %I Mashhad University of Medical Sciences %Z 2008-3866 %A Farjah, Gholam Hossein %A Salehi, Shadi %A Ansari, Mohammad Hasan %A Pourheidar, Bagher %D 2017 %\ 03/01/2017 %V 20 %N 3 %P 334-337 %! Protective effect of Crocus sativus L. (Saffron) extract on spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats %K Ischemia %K Reperfusion %K Spinal Cord %K Saffron extract %R 10.22038/ijbms.2017.8364 %X 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. %U https://ijbms.mums.ac.ir/article_8364_b85d5b5c30289647718f2d695bde1869.pdf