Systematic review and meta-analysis of resveratrol for spinal cord injury in animal models

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Frontiers in Medicine Published May 21, 2026 Medically reviewed May 21, 2026 DOI ↗ By Dr. Amelia Tan, PhD · Internal Medicine & Chronic Disease

Key Takeaway

Consider that resveratrol may improve locomotor recovery in animal spinal cord injury models, but clinical translation is uncertain.

This is a systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical evidence, synthesizing 38 controlled in vivo studies of resveratrol in animal models of spinal cord injury. The authors report that resveratrol significantly improved locomotor recovery, with standardized mean differences (SMDs) ranging from 2.56 to 5.23 for BBB scores and from 1.40 to 3.37 for BMS scores, both with 95% confidence intervals. The review also found that resveratrol reduced oxidative stress markers like MDA, increased SOD and GSH levels, and suppressed inflammatory responses including MPO, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6. Other outcomes showed a borderline increase in IL-10, reduced TUNEL-positive rate and spinal cord water content, no significant changes in BCL-2 and caspase-3 levels, and an increased BAX level. The authors acknowledge that molecular evidence for apoptosis-related pathways remains heterogeneous. Limitations include the preclinical nature of the evidence and lack of reported safety data. Practice relevance is not reported, and the findings should be interpreted with caution given the animal model context.

Study Details

Study typeMeta analysis

EvidenceLevel 1

PublishedMay 2026

View Original Abstract ↓

BackgroundResveratrol has shown potential neuroprotective effects in experimental spinal cord injury (SCI), but its overall efficacy has not been systematically evaluated. This study aimed to assess the effects of resveratrol on locomotor recovery and related pathological and biochemical outcomes in animal models of SCI.MethodsA systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted on controlled in vivo studies of resveratrol in experimentally induced SCI models, including traumatic and ischemia-reperfusion models. Major locomotor, oxidative stress, inflammatory, apoptotic, and edema-related outcomes were pooled as standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).ResultsIn total, 38 studies were included. Resveratrol significantly improved locomotor recovery, as reflected by higher BBB scores at 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after injury (SMDs ranging from 2.56 to 5.23) and higher BMS scores at the corresponding time points (SMDs ranging from 1.40 to 3.37). It also attenuated oxidative stress, with reduced MDA levels at 24 h, 3 days, and 7 days, and increased SOD and GSH levels. Inflammatory responses were suppressed, as shown by lower MPO, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels, while IL-10 showed a borderline increase at 7 days. In addition, resveratrol reduced the TUNEL-positive rate and spinal cord water content, suggesting a possible reduction in apoptotic cell death and a potential effect on spinal cord edema based on spinal cord water content. However, apoptosis-related molecular markers showed heterogeneous results, with no significant changes in BCL-2 and caspase-3 at some time points and an increased BAX level at 7 days.ConclusionsCurrent preclinical evidence supports that resveratrol exerts neuroprotective effects in SCI animal models by improving locomotor recovery and modulating oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis-related changes, and edema, although molecular evidence for apoptosis-related pathways remains heterogeneous.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD420261289830.