Luteolin- and astragaloside IV combination shows promise in preclinical spinal cord injury study
A preclinical study in Precision Clinical Medicine found that luteolin and astragaloside IV improved recovery after severe spinal cord injury in cell and rat models. The combined treatment reduced oxidative stress and neuroinflammation and improved motor function over five weeks.
A synergistic drug-pair approach improved recovery after severe spinal cord injury in preclinical models, according to a study published on December 18, 2025, in Precision Clinical Medicine. Using oxidative stress-induced neuronal cell models and a rat spinal cord injury model, researchers found that luteolin and astragaloside IV significantly enhanced neural repair and functional recovery by simultaneously reducing oxidative stress and neuroinflammation.
The researchers first tested the luteolin-astragaloside IV combination in a cellular model designed to mimic oxidative stress-induced neuronal injury. While each compound alone provided limited protection, their combination significantly reduced reactive oxygen species accumulation and improved cell survival, demonstrating a clear synergistic antioxidant effect.
The team then evaluated the therapy in a rat model of severe spinal cord injury. Animals receiving a single, localized injection of the combined treatment showed progressive improvements in motor function over five weeks, as measured by standardized behavioral tests. These functional gains were accompanied by reduced tissue cavitation, smaller lesion areas, and improved structural integrity.
Further analysis revealed that the combined treatment suppressed excessive activation of microglia and astrocytes, while enhancing the presence of neurofilament-positive nerve fibers and serotonin-related neural pathways. Computational network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses suggested that the therapy acts through multiple interconnected molecular targets involved in oxidative stress regulation, inflammation control, and apoptosis.
The study said the findings indicate that the luteolin-astragaloside IV pairing promotes recovery by reshaping the injury microenvironment rather than acting on a single repair mechanism. The paper described the work as providing a strong rationale for exploring synergistic, multi-component therapies in the treatment of complex neurological injuries.
The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, and Shandong University. The article cited the paper as: "Drug pair-derived synergistic therapy of flavonoids luteolin and astragaloside IV promotes neural repair following spinal cord injury via antioxidant and neuroprotective effects."