Artemisinin protects motoneurons against axotomy-induced apoptosis through activation of the PKA-Akt signaling pathway and promotes Neural stem/progenitor cells differentiation into NeuN + neurons.

•Artemisinin treatment alleviates the axotomy-induced damage of the sensory and motor functions.•Artemisinin treatment prevents axotomy-induced apoptosis and limits secondary damage.•Artemisinin treatment increases the number of spinal NeuN-positive neurons.•Artemisinin treatment activates PKA- Akt signaling pathway.