The Extract of Roots of Sophora flavescens Enhances the Recovery of Motor Function by Axonal Growth in Mice with a Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract

Although axonal extension to reconstruct spinal tracts should be effective for restoring function after spinal cord injury (SCI), chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG) levels increase at spinal cord lesion sites, and inhibit axonal regrowth. In this study, we found that the water extract of roots of Sophora flavescens extended the axons of mouse cortical neurons, even on a CSPG-coated surface. Consecutive oral administrations of S. flavescens extract to SCI mice for 31 days increased the density of 5-HT-positive axons at the lesion site and improved the motor function. Further, the active constituents in the S. flavescens extract were identified. The water and alkaloid fractions of the S. flavescens extract each exhibited axonal extension activity in vitro. LC/MS analysis revealed that these fractions mainly contain matrine and/or oxymatrine, which are well-known major compounds in S. flavescens. Matrine and oxymatrine promoted axonal extension on the CSPG-coated surface. This study is the first to demonstrate that S. flavescens extract, matrine, and oxymatrine enhance axonal growth in vitro, even on a CSPG-coated surface, and that S. flavescens extract improves motor function and increases axonal density in SCI mice.

Sophora flavescens Aiton Decreases MPP+-Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction in SH-SY5Y Cells

“…Moreover, SF or its compounds have been shown to have anti-oxidative (Piao et al, 2006 ), anti-cancer (Sun et al, 2007 ; Liu et al, 2010 ), anti-arthritic (Jin et al, 2010 ), anti-ulcerative (Yamahara et al, 1990 ) and anti-dermatitis (Kim et al, 2012 ) effects, and recent studies have shown that it has neuroprotective effects. Extract of SF suppressed sodium nitroprusside-induced apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells, while focal cerebral ischemia induced neuronal death in rats (Park et al, 2009 ) and enhanced axonal growth in mice (Tanabe et al, 2015 ), and oxymatrine extracted from SF prevented neuronal cell death in rat brains subjected to cerebral ischemia-reperfusion damage (Li et al, 2011 ). However, it is still not known if SF can also protect DA.…”

Matrine Directly Activates Extracellular Heat Shock Protein 90, Resulting in Axonal Growth and Functional Recovery in Spinal Cord Injured-Mice

“…In a previous study, we found that the water extract of dried roots of Sophora flavescens , a traditional medicine used in China, Korea, and Japan, enhanced axonal growth of cultured cortical neurons on a CSPG coating (Tanabe et al, 2016 ). Administration of S. flavescens extract to SCI mice increased axonal density [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-positive tracts] at the lesion site and improved the motor dysfunction.…”

The Synergistic Effect of Co-Treatment of Methyl Jasmonate and Cyclodextrins on Pterocarpan Production in Sophora flavescens Cell Cultures

“…Sophora flavescens Aiton, the shrubby sophora, belongs to the family Fabaceae (Leguminosae) and is an important legume in Asia [3]. The root of S. flavescens, also known as Kosam in Korean (Kushen in Chinese), is commonly used as a traditional herbal medicine because of its various biological activities, including anti-cancer, anti-arrhythmic, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-asthmatic effects [3][4][5][6]. It has been officially listed in the Korean Pharmacopoeia and Chinese Pharmacopoeia.…”