Anti-inflammatory effect of oleuropein in experimental rat spinal cord trauma

ABSTRACT

Spinal cord injury stimulates an inflammatory reaction that causes substantial secondary damage inside the injured spinal tissue. The purpose of this study was to determine the anti-inflammatory effect of oleuropein on traumatized spinal cord. Rats were randomly divided into four groups of 7 rats each as follows Sham-operated group, trauma group, and oleuropein treatment groups [20 mg/kg, ip, immediately and 1 hour after spinal cord injury]. Spinal cord samples were taken 24 hours after injury and studied for immunohistochemistry of tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha], interleukin-1beta [IL-1beta], nitrotyrosine, inducible nitric-oxide synthase [iNOS], cyclooxygenase-2 [COX-2], and poly[ADP-ribose] polymerase [PARP]. Attenuated TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, nitrotyrosine, iNOS, COX-2, and PARP expression could be detected in the oleuropein-treated rats. Oleuropein modulates inflammatory reactions following spinal cord injury