Total flavonoids of hawthorn leaves protect spinal motor neurons via promotion of autophagy after spinal cord injury

This study investigates the potential therapeutic effects of total flavonoids of hawthorn leaves (TFHL) on spinal cord injury (SCI). The study focuses on how TFHL can help spinal motor neurons (SMNs) recover and regenerate after an injury. The researchers used TFHL to treat rats with SCI for 7 days and examined the effects on their motor function, spinal cord tissue, and SMNs. They also conducted experiments on SMNs and astrocytes in a controlled lab environment to understand how TFHL affects these cells. The study found that TFHL improved motor function recovery in rats with SCI, promoted spinal cord tissue repair, reduced apoptosis (cell death), and improved the functional status of neurons. These findings suggest that TFHL could be a potential treatment for SCI by protecting SMNs and promoting their recovery.

• 1
  TFHL improved the neuromotor function recovery in rats after SCI, as assessed by BBB scoring.
• 2
  TFHL significantly promoted injured spinal cord tissue repair, reduced apoptosis, and improved the functional status of neurons in spinal cord tissue in vivo.
• 3
  TFHL promoted autophagy and related protein expression in vivo and vitro, suggesting a mechanism for neuroprotection.