title: Effects of a novel herbal formulation JSK on acute spinal cord injury in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Acute spinal cord injury (SCI) triggers multiple cellular and molecular pathways; therapy aimed at only one pathway is unlikely to succeed. Anecdotal reports indicate that a novel herbal formulation (JSK-Ji-Sui-Kang) may enhance recovery in humans with SCI. We investigated whether JSK's therapeutic effects could be verified in a well-established SCI model in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic effects of JSK were tested using a standard behavioral assessment, histological, immunochemical and microarray analysis. Phytochemical fingerprinting of JSK was performed using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with photodiode array detection and electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry. JSK or vehicle was gavaged to rats 24 hours after SCI and daily thereafter for 3 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Locomotor function significantly improved (n = 12; p < 0.05), tissue damage was reduced (p < 0.01; n = 6) and more axons and myelin were observed in JSK-treated compared with vehicle control animals. JSK significantly enhanced expression of neuroglobin, vascular endothelial growth factor and growth-associated protein 43, and reduced the expression of caspase 3, cyclooxygenase-2, RhoA (p < 0.05; n = 6) and fibrinogen (p < 0.01; n = 6). RNA microarray indicated that JSK altered transcription of genes involved in ischemic and inflammatory/immune responses and apoptosis (p < 0.05; n = 3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  JSK appears to target multiple biochemical and cellular pathways to enhance functional recovery and improve outcomes of SCI. The results provide a basis for further investigation of JSK's effects following SCI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery Neurosurgery, Neuroscience and Neurobiology, McMaster University, Health Sciences Centre, HSC 4N51 Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada.
authors.forename: Caixin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Truong
authors.forename: Cai
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Mariam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jarouche
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Hennell
authors.forename: Michel P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Rathbone
authors.forename: Nikolaus J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Sucher
authors.forename: Shucui
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D028321:Plant Preparations