TABLE 1.

Therapeutic intervention with active herbal extracts and metabolites.

	Active herbal extracts and metabolites
Name	Source	Molecular formula	Molecular structure	Mechanisms	Effects on SCI
Quercetin	Bupleurum chinense DC [Apiaceae; Bupleuri Radix] and Morus alba L. [Moraceae; Mori Folium]	C15H10O7		Decreases MDA and iNOS-positive cells, activates ATF2 pathway and suppresses NF-κB and STAT1 pathway	Decreases necroptosis, antioxidant properties
Gastrodin	Gastrodia elata Blume [Orchidaceae; Gastrodiae rhizome]	C13H18O7		Enhances expressions of Nrf2 and modifies subunit of GCLm and GCLc, decreases ROS and MDA	Recovery of locomotor function and antioxidant properties
Asiatic acid	Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. [Apiaceae; Centeliae herba]	C30H48O5		Suppresses myeloperoxidase activity, reduces ROS and MDA and blocks NF-kB/STAT3/ERK pathway	Increases BBB scores and inclined plane test scores, antioxidant effects
Tetramethylpyrazine	Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. [Apiaceae; Chuanxiong Rhizoma]	C8H12N2		Reduces ROS production and inhibits p53/MAPK pathways	Prevents mitochondria dysfunction, antioxidant effects
Schisandrin B	Schisandra chinensis (Turcz) Baill. [Schisandraceae; Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus]	C23H28O7		Increases SOD expression and decreases MDA expression	Improves the inclined plate test scores, antioxidant properties
Rosmarinic acid	Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton. [Lamiaceae; Perillae Fructus]	C18H16O8		Decreased ROS and activates Nrf2 and HO-1 pathway	Mitigates cytotoxicity and inflammatory injury, antioxidant properties
Allicin	Allium sativum L. [Amaryllidaceae; Allii Sativi Bulbus]	C6H10OS2		Increases Nrf2 nuclear translocation, inhibits ROS and LP. Inhibit lipid peroxidation by quenching free radicals	Accelerates recovery of motor functions, antioxidant properties
Resveratrol	Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc. [Polygonaceae; Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix]	C14H12O3		Inhibits the iNOS/p38MAPK pathway and activates Nrf2/HO-1 pathway	Strong antioxidant effects
Crocin	Crocus sativus L. [Iridaceae; Croci Stigma]	C44H64O24		Enhances the expression level of neurotrophic factors in epidermal neural crest stem cells	Promotes spinal cord regeneration
Tetrandrine	Stephania tetrandra S.Moore [Menispermaceae; Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix]	CHNO		Reduces the production of pro-inflammatory factors and regulates PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway	Repairs the integrity of the blood-spinal cord barrier
Lycopene	Tomatoes, watermelons, and pink grapefruits	C40H56		Inhibits MDA and LP	Strong antioxidant effects
Curcumin	Curcuma longa L. [Zingiberaceae; Curcumae Longae Rhizoma]	C21H20O6		Enhances ability of lymphocytes to resist oxidative stress, increases the SOD content and protects the integrity of mitochondrial membranes	Improves mitochondrial dysfunction and strong antioxidant effects