In cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), degenerative changes affecting the vertebrae, intervertebral disks and ligaments compress the spinal cord. Subsequent neuronal damage leads to motor and sensory dysfunctions. Although standard treatment of CSM is surgical decompression, neurological impairment sometimes remains or recurs. Therefore, fundamental therapy that recovers neuronal damage is required.
Our previous study clarified that Cistanche tubulosa (CT) extract improved motor dysfunction in spinal cord injury. Since we supposed that the extract might be effective also for CSM, this study aimed to investigate therapeutic effects of CT extract on CSM.
30% ethanol CT extract was orally administered to CSM model mice. Motor and sensory functional changes were observed. Recovery of spinal axons were also evaluated by visualization using neuronal tracers. To clarify functional mechanism of CT extract to axons, we focused on acteoside and echinacoside that are main components in CT extract. After oral administration of CT extract, echinacoside transferred to the spinal cord and brain. Acteoside also transferred to the spinal cord. Therefore, we investigated effects of these components on primary cultured cortical and spinal neurons. Acteoside increased axonal and dendrite densities.
This study showed that acteoside transferred to the spinal cord after oral administration of CT extract, and extended axons in vitro. Experiments of CT extract on functional recovery and axonal repairing in CSM model mice are now under investigating.