Pelargonidin improves functional recovery and attenuates neuropathic pain following spinal cord injury in rats: relevance to its neuroprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inﬂammatory effects

Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2025 · DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1547187 · Published: March 24, 2025

Spinal Cord Injury Pharmacology Neurology

Simple Explanation

This study investigates pelargonidin's effects on spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats, focusing on sensorimotor recovery and associated disorders. Pelargonidin, found in red fruits, has neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Rats with SCI were treated with pelargonidin, and their motor skills and pain levels were assessed. The research found that pelargonidin significantly improved motor function, reduced neuropathic pain, and decreased weight loss in SCI rats. The study concludes that pelargonidin can provide substantial therapeutic benefits for SCI by accelerating sensorimotor recovery. This is likely due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties.

Study Duration

4 Weeks

Participants

35 male Wistar rats

Evidence Level

Level 5, Animal Study

Key Findings

1
Pelargonidin significantly attenuated neuropathic pain, improved motor performance, and reduced weight loss in rats with SCI.
2
Biochemical assays showed that pelargonidin increased serum catalase/glutathione level and MMP2 activity, while it decreased serum nitrite level and MMP9 activity in SCI rats.
3
Histological analyses revealed that pelargonidin enhanced the number of motor neurons in the ventral horn of the spinal cord after treatment, highlighting its neuroprotective and neurogenic effects.

Research Summary

This study investigated the therapeutic potential of pelargonidin, an anthocyanin, in a rat model of spinal cord injury (SCI). The primary focus was on assessing the impact of pelargonidin on sensorimotor function recovery and neuropathic pain reduction through its neuroprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. The results demonstrated that pelargonidin significantly improved motor function, alleviated neuropathic pain, and regulated oxidative stress and inflammation markers. Specifically, it increased antioxidant levels, modulated MMP levels, and reduced tissue damage in the spinal cord. The study concludes that pelargonidin has substantial therapeutic benefits for SCI, promoting sensorimotor recovery through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective mechanisms. These findings support further investigation into pelargonidin as a potential therapeutic agent for SCI.

Practical Implications

Therapeutic Potential

Pelargonidin shows promise as a potential therapeutic agent for spinal cord injury due to its neuroprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Drug Development

The study provides a rationale for further research into pelargonidin-based treatments for SCI, which could lead to new drug development strategies.

Clinical Trials

Further preclinical and clinical studies are warranted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of pelargonidin in treating spinal cord injuries in humans.

Study Limitations

1
The study was conducted on a rat model, limiting direct translation to human SCI.
2
The study focused on a single compound (pelargonidin), and further research is needed to explore synergistic effects with other treatments.
3
The long-term effects of pelargonidin treatment on SCI recovery were not assessed in this study.

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