title: Effects of a Chinese traditional formula Kai Xin San (KXS) on chronic fatigue syndrome mice induced by forced wheel running.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In traditional medicine, Kai Xin San (KXS), composed of ginseng (Panax ginseng), hoelen (Wolfiporia cocos), polygala (Polygala tenuifolia) and Acorus gramineus, is famous for the treatment of emotion-thought disease, such as settling fright, quieting the spirit and nourishing the heart.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study investigated the effect of KXS on chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) mice induced by forced wheel running.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy two healthy adult male Kunming mice were randomly divided into six groups: home cage control group, CFS group, CFS group with Modafinil treatment at 13 mg/kg/d doge, KXS treatment at 175 mg/kg/d, 350 mg/kg/d and 700 mg/kg/d doge. CFS mice were induced by forced wheel running with higher speed for 4 weeks and then taken an exhausted exercise. The biochemical parameters including serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), serum urea nitrogen (SUN), serum testosterone (T), liver glycogen (LG), muscle glycogen (MG) and muscle lactic acid (MLA) were determined by using commercially available kits. The splenocytes proliferation from mice was examined by MTT method. The levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) secreted by splenocytes were determined by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CFS mice with KXS administration exhibited less electric shock time when compared with CFS group without drug treatment. The effect of KXS has after demonstrated reduction in SUN, LDH and MLA levels and an increase in T, LG and MG levels. CFS mice with KXS could improve the proliferation of splenocytes compared with CFS group without drug treatment. The cultured splenocytes from CFS mice without KXS supplementation produced more interleukin-2 (IL-2) but less interleukin-4 (IL-4) when compared with home cage control mice. The cultured splenocytes of CFS mice with KXS supplementation produced more interleukin-2 (IL-2) but less interleukin-4 (IL-4) when compared with CFS group without drug treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this preliminary study provide evidence that KXS could ameliorate CFS by affecting the physiological markers for fatigue. This study also supported the use of KXS against CFS by improving the proliferation of splenocytes from CFS mice and modulating the disturbance of cytokines induced by CFS.
authors: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China.
authors: Yin
authors: Y
authors: Cao
authors: Yuan
authors: Y
authors: Hu
authors: Ping
authors: P
authors: Liu
authors: Hai-Xia
authors: HX
authors: Zhao
authors: Xiao-Jiang
authors: XJ
authors: Zhou
authors: Ying-Mei
authors: YM
authors: Wei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006003:Glycogen / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000276:immunology; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D019684:Magnoliopsida; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D005082:Physical Exertion; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015847:Interleukin-4; D019344:Lactic Acid; D013739:Testosterone; D006003:Glycogen; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase