Myricitrin decreases traumatic injury of the spinal cord and exhibits antioxidant and anti­inflammatory activities in a rat model via inhibition of COX­2, TGF­ß1, p53 and elevation of Bcl­2/Bax signaling pathway.

Myricitrin has multiple effects, including antagonism of platelet activating factor, regulation of blood sugar levels, oxidation resistance, protection of the liver and the relieving of ethylism. The present study evaluated how myricitrin weakens traumatic injury of the spinal cord (TISC), and exhibits antioxidant and anti­inflammatory activities in a rat model. TISC model rats were injected intraperitoneally with 5, 10 or 30 mg/kg/day of myricitrin for 5 days. Basso­Beattie­Bresnahan evaluation of locomotion and water content of spinal cord were used to analyze the effects of myricitrin on TISC. Myricitrin significantly inhibited the TISC­induced oxidative stress and inflammatory reactions. In addition, cyclooxygenase­2 (COX­2), transforming growth factor (TGF)­ß1 and p53 were significantly reduced and Bcl­2/Bax rate was significantly increased by treatment with myricitrin. The results of the current study suggested that the neuroprotective effect of myricitrin exhibits significant antioxidant and anti­inflammatory activities, and a remarkable trauma protection activity in TISC rats through inhibition of COX­2, TGF­ß1, p53 and elevation of Bcl­2/Bax signaling pathway.