title: Efficacy of some non-conventional herbal medications (sulforaphane, tanshinone IIA, and tetramethylpyrazine) in inducing neuroprotection in comparison with interleukin-10 after spinal cord injury: A meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inflammation after spinal cord injury (SCI) may be responsible for further neural damages and therefore inhibition of inflammatory processes may exert a neuroprotection effect.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy of some non-conventional herbal medications including sulforaphane, tanshinone IIA, and tetramethylpyrazine in reducing inflammation and compare them with a known effective anti-inflammatory agent (interleukin-10 (IL-10)).
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched relevant articles in Ovid database, Medline (PubMed) EMBASE, Google Scholar, Cochrane, and Scopus up to June 2013. The efficacy of each treatment and study powers were compared using random effects model of meta-analysis. To our knowledge, no conflict of interest exists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighteen articles entered into the study. The meta-analysis revealed that exogenous IL-10 was more effective in comparison with the mentioned herbal extracts. The proposed pathways for each medication's effect on reducing the inflammation process are complex and many overlaps may exist.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IL-10 has a strong effect in the induction of neuroprotection and neurorecovery after SCI by multiple pathways. Tetramethylpyrazine has an acceptable influence in reducing inflammation through the up-regulation of IL-10. Outcomes of sulforaphane and tanshinone IIA administration are acceptable but still weaker than IL-10.
authors: Davood
authors: D
authors: Koushki
authors: Sahar
authors: S
authors: Latifi
authors: Abbas
authors: A
authors: Norouzi Javidan
authors: Marzieh
authors: M
authors: Matin
mesh_terms: D045784:Abietanes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D029001:Herbal Medicine / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017879:Isothiocyanates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013454:Sulfoxides
chemical_list: D045784:Abietanes; D017879:Isothiocyanates; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D011719:Pyrazines; D013454:Sulfoxides; C021751:tanshinone; D016753:Interleukin-10; C016766:sulforaphane; C017953:tetramethylpyrazine
keywords: Cytokines; Neuroinflammation; Pharmacology; Spinal cord