Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2014, Vol. 9 ›› Issue (6): 589-593.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.130097

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Puerarin accelerates neural regeneration after sciatic nerve injury

Minfei Wu 1, Guanjie Zhao 2, Xiaoyu Yang 1, Chuangang Peng 1, Jianwu Zhao 1, Jun Liu 1, Rui Li 3, Zhongli Gao 1   

  1. 1 Department of Orthopedics, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
    2 Department of Nephropathy, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
    3 Hand & Foot Surgery and Reparative & Reconstruction Surgery Center, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
  • Received:2014-02-26 Online:2014-03-22 Published:2014-03-22
  • Contact: Zhongli Gao, Department of Orthopedics, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130033, Jilin Province, China, zhongligao@sina.com. Rui Li, Hand & Foot Surgery and Reparative & Reconstruction Surgery Center, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130033, Jilin Province, China, 13304321102@qq.com.

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Abstract:

Puerarin is a natural isoflavone isolated from plants of the genus Pueraria and functions as a protector against cerebral ischemia. We hypothesized that puerarin can be involved in the repair of peripheral nerve injuries. To test this hypothesis, doses of 10, 5, or 2.5 mg/kg per day puerarin (8-(β-D-Glucopyranosyl-7-hydroxy-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one) were injected intraperitoneally into mouse models of sciatic nerve injury. Puerarin at the middle and high doses significantly up-regulated the expression of growth-associated protein 43 in the L4–6 segments of the spinal cord from mice at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after modeling, and reduced the atrophy of the triceps surae on the affected side and promoted the regeneration of nerve fibers of the damaged spinal cord at 8 weeks after injury. We conclude that puerarin exerts an ongoing role to activate growth-associated protein 43 in the corresponding segment of the spinal cord after sciatic nerve injury, thus contributing to neural regeneration after sciatic nerve injuries.