Lycium Barbarum Polysaccharides improves functional recovery and muscle reinnervation after prolonged denervation

Peripheral nerve lesions (i.e. brachial plexus injury) are relatively common nervous system injuries, which have a profound negative impact on patient’s quality of life. Damage to the peripheral nerve (PN) is followed by a slow rate of axonal regrowth and associated with a sub-optimal functional recovery. Lycium barbarum, regard as an upper class Chinese Medicine for hundreds of years, exhibited a range of biological activities including immuneregulative, neuroprotective, anticancer, hepatoprotective, and anti-aging. Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) is the major active ingredient of Lycium barbarum. The neuroprotective effects of LBP are well-documented in many neurodegenerative diseases; however, the beneficial effect on PN regeneration is unclear. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the promoting effect of LBP and to elucidate the molecular mechanism of LBP in PN regeneration. Here, we evaluate the promoting effect of LBP on animal model of prolonged muscle denervation (repeated sciatic nerve crush) by using behavioral tests, electrophysiology and histology analysis. LBP promotes sensory and motor functional recovery in adult mice significantly after single and repeated sciatic nerve crushes. Further gene expression profile studies needed to be performed to unveil the mechanism of LBP in PN regeneration.