Antitumor and anti-inflammatory effects of oligosaccharides from Cistanche deserticola extract on spinal cord injury.

In the present study, the pharmacological effects of oligosaccharides from Cistanche deserticola extract on inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in male albino rats with spinal cord injury were investigated. Lipid peroxidation, GSH, catalase, superoxide dismutase, acetylcholine esterase, GPx, ROS, and nitric acid were significantly altered in the rats with spinal cord injury. The mRNA expression levels of IL-6, TNF-α, cyclooxygenase-2, iNOS, p53, caspase-3, bax, and pro-NGF were reduced by >20% following extract supplementation. Protein expression levels of caspase-3 and pro-NGF were also reduced by >20%. The number of p53 positive cells was 1, 79, 54, 33, and 19 in groups GI-GV, respectively, and the corresponding numbers of caspase-3 positive cells were 2, 87, 51, 23, and 14. Based on the present results, the use of oligosaccharides from Cistanche deserticola extract was effective against inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in spinal cord injury male albino rats.