[NEUROPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF MANGIFERIN ON ACUTE SPINAL CORD INJURY IN RATS AND ITS MECHANISM]

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Pharmacology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Acute spinal cord injury (SCI) is a debilitating condition with limited treatment options.
• Oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis play critical roles in secondary SCI pathogenesis.
• Mangiferin, a natural polyphenol, has shown potential therapeutic properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the neuroprotective effects of mangiferin on acute SCI in a rat model.
• To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of mangiferin's action, including its impact on oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis.

Main Methods:

• Acute spinal cord injury (SCI) was induced in Sprague Dawley rats using the Allen's method.
• Rats were treated with varying doses of mangiferin (10, 25, 50 mg/kg) or saline.
• Motor function (BBB scores), spinal cord edema, oxidative stress markers (MDA, CAT, SOD, GSH), inflammatory cytokines (NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6), and apoptosis-related proteins (Caspase-3, Caspase-9, Bax, Bcl-2) were assessed.

Main Results:

• Mangiferin treatment significantly improved motor function and reduced spinal cord edema in a dose-dependent manner.
• Mangiferin administration decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and increased antioxidant enzyme activities (CAT, SOD, GSH).
• Mangiferin suppressed inflammatory markers (NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) and apoptosis-related proteins (Caspase-3, Caspase-9, Bax), while upregulating Bcl-2 expression.

Conclusions:

• Mangiferin exhibits significant neuroprotective effects against acute SCI in rats.
• Its mechanism involves the alleviation of spinal cord edema, inhibition of oxidative stress and inflammation, and regulation of the Bcl-2/Bax apoptotic pathway.
• Mangiferin represents a promising therapeutic agent for managing acute spinal cord injury.