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. 2025 Aug 7.
doi: 10.1007/s12011-025-04766-z. Online ahead of print.

Green Synthesis, Chemical Characterization, and Assessment of the Neuroprotective Properties of Zinc Nanoparticles on the Spinal Cord Injury Contusive Model in Rats

Haixiang Wang  1 , Wenming Wei  2
Affiliations

Green Synthesis, Chemical Characterization, and Assessment of the Neuroprotective Properties of Zinc Nanoparticles on the Spinal Cord Injury Contusive Model in Rats

Haixiang Wang et al. Biol Trace Elem Res. .

Abstract

Using a model of spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats, we recently evaluated the neuroprotective effects of Dichroa febrifuga aqueous extract in combination with green-synthesized zinc nanoparticles. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (UV-Vis) tests were used to fully characterize the Zn NPs@D. febrifuga. Sixty male rats were split into four groups for the study's in vivo phase: sham-operated/saline (group I), intact (group II), untreated control (group III), and Zn NPs@D. febrifuga at the dose of 80 µg/kg (group IV). Somatosensory-evoked potential testing was used to evaluate neural conduction recovery. To ascertain whether astrogliosis was present, the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was assessed. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) score was used to assess the behavior outcomes of the rats every week after the spinal cord damage began. Zinc nanoparticle application improved the model of spinal cord damage in Wistar rats and showed neuroprotective benefits. The group treated with Zn NPs@D. febrifuga had a large decrease (p < 0.05) in delayed reactions and a significant rise (p < 0.05) in Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan scores in the sensory tests. The group that received Zn NPs@D. febrifuga had the most decrease (p < 0.05) in GFAP. Furthermore, the zinc nanoparticle group exhibited a large increase (p < 0.05) in the ventral motor neurons number and a considerable decrease (p < 0.05) in cavity regions. The group treated with Zn NPs@D. febrifuga (80 µg/kg) showed a significant improvement (p < 0.05) in hindlimbs, according to the electromyography (EMG) results. The neuroprotective efficacies of zinc nanoparticles green-formulated by Dichroa febrifuga leaf extract can lead to amelioration in the contusive model of SCI in Wistar rats.

Keywords: Dichroa febrifuga; Neuroprotective activities; Spinal cord injury; Zinc nanoparticles.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no competing interests.

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