The Combined Use of Curcumin and Platelet-Rich Plasma Enhances Axonal Regeneration in Acute Nerve Injuries: An Experimental Study in a Rat Model

Abstract

Introduction The aim of this study was to determine if the combined use of curcumin and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) improves the axonal regeneration process in acutely repaired nerve injuries. Materials and Methods The right sciatic nerves of 32 Holtzman albino rats were transected and immediately repaired. Four treatments were randomly allocated: (1) nerve repair only; (2) nerve repair + local PRP; (3) nerve repair + intraperitoneal curcumin; and (4) nerve repair + local PRP + intraperitoneal curcumin. Clinical (estimation of sciatic functional index) and electrophysiological outcomes were assessed 4 and 12 weeks after surgery, and histologic evaluations performed 12 weeks after surgery. Results Group IV (PRP + curcumin) resulted in significantly better outcomes across all the evaluation parameters, compared with the other three groups (p < 0.05). Additionally, when used as single adjuvants, both the curcumin (group III) and PRP (group II) groups showed significant improvement over the control group (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found between PRP and curcumin when used as sole adjuvants. Conclusion The combined administration of curcumin + PRP as adjuvants to nerve repair could enhance axonal regeneration in terms of clinical, electrophysiological, and histological parameters in a rat model of acute sciatic nerve injury.