title: Protective effect of GCSB-5, an herbal preparation, against peripheral nerve injury in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  GCSB-5 (traditional name: Chungpa-Juhn), an herbal medicine composed of 6 crude herbs (Saposhnikovia divaricata Schiskin, Achyranthis bidentata Blume, Acanthopanax sessiliflorum Seem, Cibotium baromets J. Smith, Glycine max Meriill, and Eucommia ulmoides Oliver), has been widely used in Asia for treatment of neuropathic and inflammatory diseases. This study investigated the protective effect of GCSB-5 against peripheral nerve injury in vitro and in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  After left sciatic nerve transection, rats received oral administration of GCSB-5 (30, 100, 300, and 600 mg/kg), or saline (vehicle), respectively, once daily for 8 weeks. Motor functional recovery and axonal nerve regeneration were evaluated by measurement of sciatic functional index (SFI), sensory regeneration distance, and gastrocnemius muscle mass ratio. The myelinated axon number was counted by morphometric analysis. In the in vitro study, the effects of GCSB-5 on H(2)O(2)-induced oxidative damage in SH-SY5Y cells were investigated by measurement of cell viability, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation, release of lactate dehydrogenease (LDH), and cellular glutathione contents. Neurite outgrowth was also determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 8 weeks of nerve transection, SFI, regeneration distance, and gastrocnemius muscle mass ratio and myelinated axon number showed a significant decrease and these decreases were attenuated by GCSB-5. GCSB-5 significantly inhibited H(2)O(2)-induced cell death and oxidative stress, as evidenced by decreases in production of ROS and lipid peroxidation and release of LDH, and by increase in total GSH content.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The neuroprotective effect afforded by GCSB-5 is due in part to reduced oxidative stress.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746, South Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-Hoon
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seong-Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Woo-Cheol
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Joon-Ki
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Joonshik
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Sangho
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sun-Mee
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000187:drug effects; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D020196:Trauma, Nervous System / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D005978:Glutathione