How does ursolic acid induce neural regeneration after sciatic nerve injury?

Ursolic acid (chemical name 3-hydroxy-12- ursen-28-oic acid) is a triterpenoid extracted from natural plant-based drugs, and has anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and anti-scarring effects, and it regulates the immune system and promotes the repair of injured neurons.However, no reports have explored its role in peripheral nerve injury. A recent study by Prof. Jiajun Chen and team from China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, China established mouse models of sciatic nerve injury through unilateral sciatic nerve complete transection and microscopic anastomosis. The successfully generated model mice were treated with 10, 5, or 2.5 mg/kg ursolic acid via intraperitoneal injection.

This study, published in the Neural Regeneration Research (Vol. 8, No. 27, 2013), is the first to demonstrate a role of ursolic acid in repair and regeneration following peripheral nerve injury. Ursolic acid promoted the regeneration of injured nerve myelin sheaths and reconstructed muscular functions. All experimental findings provide favorable evidence for the application of ursolic acid following peripheral nerve injury.

More information:
"Ursolic acid induces neural regeneration after sciatic nerve injury" by Biao Liu1, Yan Liu1, Guang Yang1, Zemin Xu1, Jiajun Chen2 (1 Department of Hand Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130033, Jilin Province, China; 2 Department of Neurology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130033, Jilin Province, China) Liu B, Liu Y, Yang G, Xu ZM, Chen JJ. Ursolic acid induces neural regeneration after sciatic nerve injury. Neural Regen Res. 2013;8(27):2510-2519.

Provided by Neural Regeneration Research