[Study on effect of suifukang in regulating the change of free radical after hemitransected spinal cord injury].

Objective: To explore the regulatory effect of Suifukang (SFK), a compound Chinese patent drug on the change of free radical in tissue of spinal cord and blood caused by experimental spinal injury.

Methods: Seventy male adult SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, the SFK group (n = 20), the hormone group (n = 20), the control group (n = 20) and the normal group (n = 10). Rats in the former three groups were made into the right hemitransected spinal cord (T12) injury. SFK were given to the rats in the SFK group 3 days before and 2 hrs after modeling via gastrogavage, saline was given to rats in the control group at the same time. As for the rats in the hormone group, methyl-prednisolone 30 mg/kg was given once immediately by peritoneal injection. The rats were sacrificed in two batches (10 of each group in each batch) at 8 hrs and 24 hrs after modeling to obtain the serum and injured spinal cord tissue for determining superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content.

Results: (1) As compared with the normal group, SOD activity in serum and spinal tissue of the control group was lower significantly both at 8 hrs and 24 hrs after modeling, but the changes of SOD activity in the SFK and the hormone group were insignificant; (2) Content of MDA in serum and spinal tissue of rats elevated after modeling, which in the control group at 8 hrs after modeling were higher than that in the normal group, also higher than that in the SFK group and the hormone group; but at 24 hrs after modeling, it lowered significantly in both treated groups. The changes of MDA content in serum were similar to those in the spinal tissue.

Conclusion: SFK could effectively eliminate the excessive free radical in serum and injured spinal tissue, and raise the capability of antioxidation of organism.