About the Special Issue

Although the developments in regenerative medicine and advanced surgical methods have shown promising outcomes, there are still cases where modern medicine is insufficient. At this point, the concept of alternative medicine comes to the fore, and Western medicine is not as distant as it used to be from traditional and complementary medicine. Due to limited regeneration outputs in peripheral nerve injuries, the use of various antioxidants as supplements to prevent or delay the oxidation of biologically active molecules is frequently encountered. Peripheral nervous tissue is vulnerable to oxidative stress because of the lack of lymph drainage and the insufficiency of the blood-nerve barrier. Another reason for vulnerability is the high phospholipid content of peripheral nervous tissue. The distant location of the axons from the cell bodies can also be considered a factor that inhibits the oxidative response. It has been quite common in recent years to use alternative supplements to prevent the formation of free radicals that increase after damage and reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentration. Plants are the primary source of natural antioxidants; many parts of plants contain a substance with antioxidant potential. The regeneration-inducing antioxidant agents have been used in traditional medicine since ancient times. In addition to CoQ10, beta-carotene, and omega-3 substances, frequently encountered in the literature and often benefit from their antioxidant properties, the use of phenolic substances with antioxidant properties, which have been used in traditional medicine for centuries, is also widespread. Ginger (Zingiber officinale, Zingiberaceae) and sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) are famous herbaceous species and medicinal plants cultivated in Asia and Africa in traditional medicine dating back to 2000 years ago. In addition, Adansonia digitata L., commonly encountered in Africa and called baobab, and Ocimum basilicum (OB), known as sweet basil or Rihan, are among aromatic annual plants. Another substance, Garcinia kola, frequently used in traditional African medicine, is known as kolaviron (Kolav). The West African folk have used its seeds to treat malaria and diabetes mellitus for centuries. In addition, studies have shown that this substance has antiviral, anti-inflammatory, a bronchodilator, and antihepatotoxic properties.

Additionally, experimental studies on animal models showed that curcumin could be used to treat neurodegenerative diseases and neurological disorders such as epilepsy and migraine. Besides these, cinnamon, which is still frequently used in kitchens daily, has been utilized to treat dyspepsia, gastritis, and inflammatory diseases in both Eastern and Western countries. Similarly, garlic (Allium sativum) has been widely used for culinary components and flavoring, as well as a medicinal ingredient to treat a wide range of diseases, including cancer. Several studies demonstrate the different antioxidant mechanisms of aged garlic extract, such as their potential to neutralize ROS and reactive nitrogen species and elevate enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant levels. Demonstrating the regenerative effects of the mentioned substances with scientific methods is essential in measuring safe doses to be used and integrating them into modern medicine. The presented special issue about the herbals and their effects on peripheral nerve regeneration will evaluate all aspects of issues.

Keywords: Baobab; curcumin; Garcina kola; garlic; ginger; sesame

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