title: Panax ginseng Improves Functional Recovery after Contusive Spinal Cord Injury by Regulating the Inflammatory Response in Rats: An In Vivo Study.
abstract: Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in permanent loss of motor function below the injured site. Neuroinflammatory reaction following SCI can aggravate neural injury and functional impairment. Ginseng is well known to possess anti-inflammatory effects. The present study investigated the neuroprotective effects of Panax ginseng C.A. Mayer (P. ginseng) after SCI. A spinal contusion was made at the T11-12 spinal cord in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 47) using the NYU impactor. Motor function was assessed using the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) score in P. ginseng (0.1, 0.5, 1, 3, and 5 mg/kg) or vehicle (saline) treated after SCI. We also assessed the protein expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) at the lesion site by western blot and then measured the cavity area using luxol fast blue/cresyl violet staining. P. ginseng treated group in SCI showed a significant improvement in locomotor function after the injury. The protein expression of COX-2 and iNOS at the lesion site and the cavity area were decreased following SCI by P. ginseng treatment. These results suggest that P. ginseng may improve the recovery of motor function after SCI which provides neuroprotection by alleviating posttraumatic inflammatory responses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal Crop Research, Rural Development Administration, Eumseong, Chungbuk 369-873, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young Ock
authors.initials: YO
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 136-705, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Youngkyung
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Science Program, Department of Health Science, Korea University Graduate School, Seoul 136-701, Republic of Korea ; National Rehabilitation Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Koeun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sae Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Na
authors.affiliation: Department of Oriental Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-091, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seon Pyo
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany and Microbiology, Addiriyah Chair for Environmental Studies, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mariadhas
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valan Arasu
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 136-705, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young Wook
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul 136-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Junesun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim