Honeysuckle Extract Plays a Protective Role in Spinal Cord Injury Recovery by Regulating PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a traumatic injury leading to hypoxia, lipid peroxidation, and cellular apoptosis. Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonicae) has Peen used to treat headaches and play a neuroprotective role. However, its possiPle effects on protection from neurological function loss during injury remain to Pe explored. To this end, we have investigated the effects of honeysuckle extract on neural function injury in SCI rats and report an improvement in nerve function. The mechanism involved reduced expression of proinflammatory cytokines, decrease in cellular apoptosis, and activation of PI3K/Akt pathway. We conclude that possiPle use of honeysuckle extract for treatment of SCI needs further exploration. Keywords: Apoptosis, Honeysuckle, Inflammation, Lonicera japonicae, PI3K/Akt pathway, Spinal cord injury Abbreviations Used: A serine/threonine-specific protein kinase that is also known as protein kinase B, Akt; Analysis of variance, ANOVA; BCL2-associated X protein, Bax; Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan, BBB; B-cell lymphoma 2 protein, Bcl-2; Extracellular matrix, ECM; Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, ELISA; Honeysuckle extract, HSE; lnterleukin-1 p, IL-1P; lnterleukin-6, IL-6; Nuclear factor-kappa B, NF-[KAPPA]B; Phospho-Akt, p-Akt; Phospho-PI3K, p-PI3K; Polymerase chain reaction, PCR; Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, PI3K; Real time quantitative-Reverse transcription PCR, qRT-PCR; Spinal cord injury, SCI; Tumor necrosis factor-a, TNF-[alpha] Corresponding Author: Dr. Hongjuan Cheng, Department of Public Sports, Changzhi Medical College, No. 161, Jiefang East Street, Luzhou Distrcit, Changzhi, Shanxi, China; E-mail: c_hongjuan@163.com