来自中国北京大学人民医院和北京大学交通医学中心的姜保国博士所领导的团队前期，进行的动物实验证实，传统中药淫羊藿提取液全身给药具有促周围神经再生的作用。本文希望进一步明确单体淫羊藿甙局部给药对周围神经再生的修复效果。实验用聚乳酸-羟基乙酸共聚物生物套管套接大鼠右侧坐骨神经5mm缺损，然后向套接间隙内分别注入生理盐水、神经生长因子水溶液、淫羊藿甙混悬液、神经生长因子缓释微球混悬液。12周后，与神经生长因子水溶液和生理盐水治疗的大鼠相比，淫羊藿甙混悬液治疗的大鼠坐骨神经功能指数、小腿三头肌肌肉湿质量恢复率、三头肌肌肉组织形态未见明显变化，而坐骨神经传导速度及有髓神经纤维数量明显增加，且效果与神经生长因子缓释微球接近。说明淫羊藿甙局部应用与促神经再生的神经生长因子作用一样能促进周围神经再生。相关文献发表于《中国神经再生研究（英文版）》杂志2015年1月第1期。

Local administration of icariin contributes to peripheral nerve regeneration and functional recovery

Abstract  Our previous study showed that systemic administration of the traditional Chinese medicine Epimedium extract promotes peripheral nerve regeneration. Here, we sought to explore the therapeutic effects of local administration of icariin, a major component of Epimedium extract, on peripheral nerve regeneration. A poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) biological conduit sleeve was used to bridge a 5 mm right sciatic nerve defect in rats, and physiological saline, nerve growth factor, icariin suspension, or nerve growth factor-releasing microsphere suspension was injected into the defect. Twelve weeks later, sciatic nerve conduction velocity and the number of myelinated fibers were notably greater in the rats treated with icariin suspension or nerve growth factor-releasing microspheres than those that had received nerve growth factor or physiological saline. The effects of icariin suspension were similar to those of nerve growth factor-releasing microspheres. These data suggest that icariin acts as a nerve growth factor-releasing agent, and indicate that local application of icariin after spinal injury can promote peripheral nerve regeneration.