Honeysuckle Extract Plays a Protective Role in Spinal Cord Injury Recovery by Regulating PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a traumatic injury leading to hypoxia, lipid peroxidation, and cellular apoptosis. Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonicae) has been used to treat headaches and play a neuroprotective role. However, its possible effects on protection from neurological function loss during injury remain to be explored. To this end, we have investigated the effects of honeysuckle extract on neural function injury in SCI rats and report an improvement in nerve function. The mechanism involved reduced expression of proinflammatory cytokines, decrease in cellular apoptosis, and activation of PI3K/Akt pathway. We conclude that possible use of honeysuckle extract for treatment of SCI needs further exploration.