Effect of Intrathecal Eugenol on Cerebral Vasospasm in an Experimental Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Model

<black square> BACKGROUND: Eugenol has various curative properties. It affects the dilatation of cerebral arteries through voltage-dependent Ca2 D channel inhibition. This study is the first to explore the impact of eugenol on neuroprotection and vasospasm in an experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) model. <black square> METHODS: Twenty-four adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were indiscriminately separated into 3 groups: the control group (n = 8), the SAH group (n = 8), and the eugenol group (n = 8). A double-bleeding method was used. The eugenol group received intracisternal eugenol (Sigma -Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) at 30 mg/20 ml after induction of SAH. On the day 7, all groups were euthanized. Measurements were taken for basilar artery wall thickness, lumen diameter, serum endothelin-1 (ET -1), and caspase-3 levels. <black square> RESULTS: The eugenol group exhibited significantly lower wall thickness, ET -1, oxidative stress index, and caspase-3 levels compared to the SAH group. In comparison to the control group, the eugenol group showed a higher oxidative stress index along with higher ET -1 and caspase-3 levels, but these differences were not statistically significant. Wall thickness was significantly higher in the eugenol group than in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: This study represents the first literature exploration of intrathecal eugenol 's impact on vasospasm induced after experimental SAH. Administration of intrathecal eugenol demonstrates a positive effect on the treatment of experimental vasospasm as well as on the reduction of oxidative stress and apoptosis.