Preliminary optimization of a Chinese herbal medicine formula based on the neuroprotective effects in a rat model of rotenone-induced Parkinson's disease.
OBJECTIVE
The main objective of this study was to preliminarily determine the optimum formulation of a Chinese herbal formula that may have neuroprotective effects against rotenone-induced Parkinson's disease (PD).


METHODS
Seven recipes were made from Dihuang (DH, Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch), Roucongrong (RCR, Cistanche deserticola Y.C.Ma), Niuxi (NX, Achyranthes bidentata Bl.) and Shanzhuyu (SZY, Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc) in different proportions, according to the principles of uniform design (4 factors 7 levels). Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) were detected by immunohistochemistry and rotenone-exposure days necessary to induce PD symptoms were recorded. To probe one likely mechanism of the formulas, echinacoside (ECH) concentrations of all seven recipes were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography and related to number of TH-positive neurons.


RESULTS
The data showed that recipe 4 (DH:RCR:SZY:NX = 1:1:1:1) and recipe 7 (DH:RCR:SZY:NX = 7:5:3:1) partially reversed rotenone-induced death of TH-positive neurons in the SNpc and significantly increased rotenone-exposed days compared with model group. Pharmacologically, there was not a strong correlation between ECH concentration and TH-positive neurons.


CONCLUSION
The investigated formulations of Chinese herbs had neuroprotective effects against PD models, and the neuroprotective effects were weakly related to the proportion of key herbs. However the neuroprotective effects of the formula may not result from a single active constituent.
['Bao|Xu-Xia|XX|', 'Ma|Hui-Han|HH|', 'Ding|Hao|H|', 'Li|Wen-Wei|WW|', 'Zhu|Min|M|']
D000818:Animals D004195:Disease Models, Animal D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal D006801:Humans D008297:Male D018696:Neuroprotective Agents D010300:Parkinson Disease D010946:Plants, Medicinal D051381:Rats D017208:Rats, Wistar D012402:Rotenone
Uniform design Echinacoside Chinese herb Parkinson’s disease Rotenone