Protective effects of muscone on traumatic spinal cord injury in rats

Abstract

Background: Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is a major clinical concern, and it is a life-changing neurological condition with substantial socioeconomic implications. Muscone has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicinal formulations for its anti-inflammatory activity. However, its protective effects on traumatic SCI have not been explored. This study investigated whether muscone plays a protective role in SCI and compared its effects with those of methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MPSS).Methods: Rats were divided into five groups: normal saline (NS; n=24), methylprednisolone (MP; w=24), and muscone 1 (MO1), muscone 2 (MO2), and muscone 3 (MO3) (n=24 in each group, collectively called the MOx groups). The SCI rat model was established by the modified Allen's method. The rats were administered muscone (MO1: 2.5 mg/kg, MO2: 5 mg/kg, and MO3: 10 mg/kg) or MP (30 mg/kg), or an equivalent volume of saline. The rats were kept under observation for 4 weeks. Malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2), and caspase3 was detected by western blot analysis. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE), Nissl, and immunocytochemistry (ICC) staining was performed for pathological observation. Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan motor function scores were evaluated for assessment of neural functions after acute SCI.Results: Muscone inhibited immune-inflammatory reactions, neuronal necrosis, and apoptosis. The lower limb function recovery was better in the MOx groups compared with NS and MP groups according to Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan scores. The changes were remarkable in the MO2 group compared with the other groups.Conclusions: Muscone alleviates secondary injury after SCI by reducing immune-inflammatory reactions, neuronal necrosis, and apoptosis.

Immune-boosting effect of Yookgong-dan against cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression in mice

“…While direct evidence of immune activity in other medicinal herbs is lacking, these herbs have been reported to offer a variety of pharmacological benefits. These include anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, nerve-regenerative, and neuroprotective activities [ [59] , [60] , [61] , [62] , [63] , [64] ].…”

Protective role of muscones on astrocytes under a mechanical-chemical damage model

“…There is evidence that muscone can reduce the neuron death of neonatal mice after ketamine anesthesia and ease brain edema and cell damage after cerebral ischemia (17)(18)(19)30,31). Muscone has a similar anti-inflammatory effect to that of glucocorticoids, but does not have the side effects of glucocorticoids (32). It has been frequently used in clinical settings to treat brain and cardiovascular injuries.…”