摘要Previous studies have shown that Biochanin A,a flavonoid compound with estrogenic effects,can serve as a neuroprotective agent in the context of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury;however,its effect on spinal cord injury is still unclear.In this study,a rat model of spinal cord injury was established using the heavy object impact method,and the rats were then treated with Biochanin A(40 mg/kg)via intraperitoneal injection for 14 consecutive days.The results showed that Biochanin A effectively alleviated spinal cord neuronal injury and spinal cord tissue injury,reduced inflammation and oxidative stress in spinal cord neurons,and reduced apoptosis and pyroptosis.In addition,Biochanin A inhibited the expression of inflammasome-related proteins(ASC,NLRP3,and GSDMD)and the Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-κB pathway,activated the Nrf2/heme oxygenase 1 signaling pathway,and increased the expression of the autophagy markers LC3 Ⅱ,Beclin-1,and P62.Moreover,the therapeutic effects of Biochanin A on early post-spinal cord injury were similar to those of methylprednisolone.These findings suggest that Biochanin A protected neurons in the injured spinal cord through the Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor κB and Nrf2/heme oxygenase 1 signaling pathways.These findings suggest that Biochanin A can alleviate post-spinal cord injury at an early stage.