Review Article

Therapeutic Effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Spinal Cord Injury: A Promising Supplementary Treatment in Future

Table 1

Sources, structures, doses, and mechanisms of six natural compounds in SCI treatment.

NameSourceStructureDoseMechanism

CurcuminDried rhizome of Curcuma longa L. in Zingiberaceae; Curcumae Longae Rhizoma() In vivo:
100 mg/kg, i.p.;
200 mg/kg/day, p.o.
() In vitro: 1 M for 24 h or 7 days
() Antioxidant (SOD, MDA, GSH/GSSH, GSH-PX, and CAT)
() Anti-inflammatory (NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, RANTES, and Nrf2/ARE pathway)
() Neuroprotective effect (GFAP, NSE)
() Antiapoptosis effect (caspase-3 and caspase-7)

ResveratrolPolygonum cuspidatum, red wine, red grape skins, berries such as blueberries, peanuts, and other nutsIn vivo:
100 g/kg, i.v.;
10 mg/kg, i.v. (New Zealand white rabbit);
20 mg/kg, i.p.;
50 mg/kg, i.p.;
60 mg/kg, i.p.;
100 mg/kg, i.p.;
200 mg/kg, i.p.
() Antioxidant (MDA, SOD, XO, NO, and GSH)
() Antiapoptosis (Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3, PI3K/Akt pathway, and MAPKs signaling pathways)

EGCGDried fresh leaves of the plant Camellia sinensis L. Ktze. in TheaceaeIn vivo:
50 mg/kg, i.p.;
100 mg/kg, i.p.
() Antioxidant (O2−, SOD, and MDA)
() Anti-inflammatory (IL-1β, TNF-α, and ICAM-1)
() Antiapoptosis (Bax, Bcl-2, and Bcl-2/Bax ratio)
() Neuroprotective effect (NT-3, BDNF, AQP4, and GFAP)

LigustrazineDried rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. in UmbelliferaeIn vivo:
30 mg/kg, i.p.
() Anti-inflammatory (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-10, and NF-κB)
() Antioxidant (MDA, SOD)
() Antiapoptosis (Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3, and PI3K/Akt pathway)

QuercetinApples, onions, citrus fruits, berries, red grapes, red wine, and broccoliIn vivo:
0.2 mg/kg/d, i.p.;
20 mg/kg twice daily, i.p.
() Antioxidant (MDA, SOD, GSH, NO, and MPO)
() Anti-inflammatory (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6)
() Antiapoptosis (caspase-3, p38MAPK signaling pathway)

PuerarinDried root of Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi in Leguminosae50 mg/kg, i.p.Neuroprotective activity (p35, p25, glutamate, Trx-1, and Trx-2)

Animals used in experiments are rats without special explanation.