title: Spinal cord injury effectively ameliorated by neuroprotective effects of rosmarinic acid.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pathophysiology of spinal cord injury (SCI) causes primary and secondary effects leading to loss of neuronal function. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of rosmarinic acid (RA) in protection against SCI.
  
  
  METHODS
  The experimental study was carried out in male wistar rats categorized into three groups. Group I - sham operated rats; Group II - SCI; Group III - SCI followed by RA treatment (10 mg/kg). The spinal tissues after treatment schedule were analyzed for oxidative stress status through determination of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation, protein damage (carbonyl and sulfhydryl contents), and antioxidant enzyme activities. The expression of oxidative stress factors NF-κB and Nrf-2 was determined by Western blot analysis. Further pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, MCP-1, and IL-1β) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results show that treatment with RA significantly enhances the antioxidant status and decrease the oxidative stress in wistar rats post-SCI. RA effectively ameliorated inflammatory mechanisms by downregulation of NF-κB and pro-inflammatory cytokines post-SCI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study demonstrates for the first time on the role of RA in protecting the spinal cord from injury and demonstrates its neuroprotection in wistar rats.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurosurgery , General Hospital of Chinese PLA , Beijing , People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ai-Jia
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.affiliation: b Department of Health Medicine , General Hospital of Chinese PLA , Beijing , People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: c Department of Pediatrics , General Hospital of Chinese PLA , Beijing , People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hang-Yan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurosurgery , General Hospital of Chinese PLA , Beijing , People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ben-Zhang
authors.initials: BZ
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.affiliation: c Department of Pediatrics , General Hospital of Chinese PLA , Beijing , People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: d Medical Neurobiology of State Key Laboratory, Fudan University , Shanghai , People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhong-Feng
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurosurgery , General Hospital of Chinese PLA , Beijing , People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ding-Biao
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002934:Cinnamates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053630:Depsides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D050050:Protein Carbonylation / Q000187:drug effects; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000097123:Rosmarinic Acid
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D002934:Cinnamates; D053630:Depsides; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D016328:NF-kappa B; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D000097123:Rosmarinic Acid
keywords: Cytokines; Inflammation; NF-κB; Neuroprotection; Nrf-2; Oxidative stress; Rosmarinic acid; Spinal cord injury