title: Neuroprotective effect of asiatic acid against spinal cord injury in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study investigated the therapeutic efficacy of asiatic acid (AA) on spinal cord injury (SCI) as well as the underlying mechanisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sprague-Dawley rats (n=150) were randomly assigned to five groups: sham, SCI, SCI+methylprednisolone (30mg/kg), SCI+AA (30mg/kg), and SCI+AA (75mg/kg). Motor function, histological changes, neutrophil infiltration, proinflammatory cytokine production, and oxidative stress as well as nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf)2, heme oxygenase (HO)-1, and nucleotide-binding domain-like receptor protein (NLRP)3 levels were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AA treatment increased Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan scores and inclined plane test scores that were reduced by SCI. In addition, AA suppressed myeloperoxidase activity and reduced the levels of interleukin-1β, -18, and -6 and tumor necrosis factor-α as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS), H2O2, and malondialdehyde levels while increasing superoxide dismutase activity and glutathione production. AA treatment results in the upregulation in Nrf2/HO-1 levels and downregulation of NLRP3 inflammasome protein expression in SC tissue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AA protects against SCI via suppression of inflammation and oxidative stress. The underlying mechanism likely involves activation of Nrf2 and HO-1 and inhibition of ROS and the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. AA has therapeutic potential for SCI treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, No. 261 Huansha Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou 310006, China.
authors.forename: Wu
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, No. 261 Huansha Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou 310006, China.
authors.forename: Maoqiang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, No. 261 Huansha Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou 310006, China.
authors.forename: Fan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, No. 261 Huansha Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou 310006, China.
authors.forename: Zhenyu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bian
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, No. 600 Yi Shan Road, Shanghai 200233, China.
authors.forename: Qifang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, No. 261 Huansha Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou 310006, China.
authors.forename: Xuepeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, No. 261 Huansha Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou 310006, China.
authors.forename: Wangxiang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, No. 261 Huansha Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou 310006, China. Electronic address: drzhuliulong@sina.com.
authors.forename: Liulong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D000071199:NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D053978:Pentacyclic Triterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2; D000071199:NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; C495637:Nfe2l2 protein, rat; C573346:Nlrp3 protein, rat; D053978:Pentacyclic Triterpenes; C017032:asiatic acid; D009195:Peroxidase; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1
keywords: Asiatic acid; Inflammation; NLRP3 inflammasome; Nrf2; Oxidative stress; Spinal cord injury