Salvianolic acid B reduced the formation of epidural fibrosis in an experimental rat model

BACKGROUND: Salvianolic acid B (Sal B) was newly reported to be able to attenuate fibrosis in the animal model. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of the intragastric application of Sal B on the prevention of epidural fibrosis (EF). METHODS: Forty healthy adult male Wistar rats were divided into four treatment groups (n = 10 per group): (1) 10 mg/kg Sal B, (2) 30 mg/kg Sal B, (3) 50 mg/kg Sal B and (4) Saline (vehicle treatment, control group). All animals underwent a laminectomy at the lumbar 1–2 (L 1–2) level. After intragastric treatment, all rats were sacrificed at post-operative week 8. The extent of the epidural scar, the regeneration of the vasculature and the expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were analysed. RESULTS: The animals’ recovery was uneventful during the experimental period. The extent of the epidural scar, the regeneration of the vasculature and the expression levels of VEGF suggested better outcomes in the Sal B-treated groups. Sal B exerted the ability to prevent the formation of an epidural scar and vascularization at the laminectomy sites. The effects of Sal B were dose-dependent, with the 50 mg/kg Sal B group showing the best outcomes compared with the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Post-operative intragastric application of Sal B can prevent the formation of epidural scarring. Sal B exerted these effects in a dose-dependent manner, and 50 mg/kg dose was shown to be the best effect in the present study. The results of this study reveal that Sal B could be a potential therapy for EF and valuable for further research.