Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2018, Vol. 13 ›› Issue (12): 2200-2208.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.241472

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Huangqin flavonoid extraction for spinal cord injury in a rat model

Qian Zhang1, Li-Xin Zhang2, Jing An1, Liang Yan3, Cui-Cui Liu1, Jing-Jing Zhao1, Hao Yang1   

  1. 1 Translational Medicine Center, Hong Hui Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China
    2 Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Hong Hui Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China
    3 Department of Spine Surgery, Hong Hui Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China
  • Received:2018-08-20 Online:2018-12-15 Published:2018-12-15
  • Contact: Qian Zhang, PhD, zq-melody@163.com; Hao Yang, PhD, yanghao.71_99@yahoo.com.
  • Supported by:

    This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81403278 (to QZ); the Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi Province of China, No. 2017JM8058 (to QZ); the Shaanxi Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine in China, No. 15-ZY038 (to QZ).

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Abstract:

Flavonoids from Huangqin (dried roots of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi) have anti-inflammatory effects, and are considered useful for treatment of spinal cord injury. To verify this hypothesis, the T9–10 spinal cord segments of rats were damaged using Allen’s method to establish a rat spinal cord injury model. Before model establishment, Huangqin flavonoid extraction (12.5 g/kg) was administered intragastrically for 1 week until 28 days after model establishment. Methylprednisolone (30 mg/kg) was injected into the tail vein at 30 minutes after model establishment as a positive control. Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan locomotor scale scores were used to assess hind limb motor function. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to detect pathological changes in the injured spinal cord. Immunofluorescence and western blot assays were performed to measure immunoreactivity and expression levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neuronal marker neurofilament protein, microglial marker CD11b and astrocyte marker glial fibrillary acidic protein in the injured spinal cord. Huangqin flavonoid extraction markedly reduced spinal cord hematoma, inflammatory cell infiltration and cavities and scars, and increased the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan locomotor scale scores; these effects were identical to those of methylprednisolone. Huangqin flavonoid extraction also increased immunoreactivity and expression levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neurofilament protein, and reduced immunoreactivity and expression levels of CD11b and glial fibrillary acidic protein, in the injured spinal cord. Overall, these data suggest that Huangqin flavonoid extraction can promote recovery of spinal cord injury by inducing brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neurofilament protein expression, reducing microglia activation and regulating reactive astrocytes.

Key words: nerve regeneration, spinal cord injury, flavonoids, Scutellaria baicalensis, neurofilament, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, astrocytes, microglia, neural regeneration