Neuroprotective effects of salvianolic acid B on secondary spinal cord damage

R74; Salvianolic acid B(Sal B), an effective ingredient of Danshen(salvia miltiorrhiza root), has been shown to exhibit anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. The present study investigated whether Sol B has a neuroprotective effect on secondary spinal cord injury when administrated alone. In addition, the effects of $al B on attenuating expression of tumor necrosis factor-a(TNF-α)following acute spinal cord injury were analyzed, as well as the effects of combined treatment of Sal B and etanercept. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that Sal B significantly reduced matrix metalloproteinase-1 and c-Fos expression at 24 hours after spinal cord injury, and decreased tissue edema was detected using the dry-wet weight method at 3 days after injury. In addition, Sal B significantly promoted recovery of motor function in rats. These effects were most significant at a dose of 20 mg/kg Sal B. At 24 hours after spinal cord injury, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blot assay results showed that Sat B, etanercept, or the combination significantly suppressed increased TNF-o mRNA and protein expression, although the combinationresulted in more significant outcomes. These results suggested that Sal B exerted neuroprotective effects against secondary spinal cord injury by reducing expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1,c-Fos, and TNF-α. Moreover, Sol B combined with etaneroept resulted in more significant anti-inflammatory effects.