Anti-oxidant, anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects of geraniin in spinal cord injury in rats: role of COX-2.

Abstract

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) has a devastating effect on degeneration of the spinal column, and vascular problems. However, the currently available therapeutic interventions are insufficient to address these effects, which lead to significant impacts on the morbidity and mortality of patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate the pharmacological effect of geraniin (GER) on SCI in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats.

Materials and methods: SCIs in rats were induced by the conventional weightdrop method and treated with geraniin (GER) (at 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg). Subsequently, the locomotor activity of rats with SCI was assessed using Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) scores, while oxidative stress indicators and inflammatory variables were analysed using commercially available kits. Additionally, neuronal death was quantified using TUNEL labelling. The enzymatic activity of caspase-3, -8, and -9 was also assessed. Furthermore, the expression levels of Bcl2, Bax, and COX-2 in rat spinal cords after SCI were analysed by RT-PCR analysis.

Results: We found that therapy with GER could enhance functional recovery in a dosage-dependent manner, as well as reduce the occurrence of apoptosis, and mitigate the inflammatory and oxidative response in rats with SCI. Furthermore, we observed that GER increased the expression of Bcl2 and decreased the expression of Bax and COX-2. The concentrations of caspase-3, -8, and -9 was observed to be decreased in SCI rats treated with GER.

Conclusions: GER might protect the spinal cord from SCI by reducing apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response through the inhibition of COX-2.