title: Effects of Zhichan powder on signal transduction and apoptosis-associated gene expression in the substantia nigra of Parkinson's disease rats.
abstract: Previous studies have shown that Zhichan powder elevated immunity and suppressed oxidation in mice. Rat models of Parkinson's disease were induced by stereotaxically injecting 6-hydroxydopamine into the substantia nigra. The rat models were intragastrically treated with Zhichan powder, which is composed of milkvetch root, ginseng, bunge swallowwort root, himalayan teasel root, Magnolia officinalis, Ligustrum lucidum Ait. and szechwan lovage rhizome. Immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-PCR results demonstrated that mRNA and protein expression of tumor necrosis factor receptor 1, Fas, caspase-8, cytochrome C, Bax, caspase-3, and p53 significantly increased, but Bcl-2 expression significantly decreased in the substantia nigra of rats with Parkinson's disease. Following Zhichan powder administration, mRNA and protein expression of tumor necrosis factor receptor 1, Fas, caspase-8, cytochrome C, Bax, caspase-3, and p53 diminished, but Bcl-2 expression increased in the rat substantia nigra. These results indicate that Zhichan powder regulates signal transduction protein expression, inhibits apoptosis, and exerts therapeutic effects on Parkinson's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130031, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Jiajun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Norman Bethune College of Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Jinshu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Norman Bethune College of Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Yafei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Norman Bethune College of Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Shihong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Norman Bethune College of Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Yongmao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Qingwei
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Image, Second Clinical Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Pengguo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Life Science College, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Quan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kuang
keywords: 6-hydroxydopamine; Parkinson’s disease; Zhichan powder; apoptosis; degenerative disease; neural regeneration; signal transduction; substantia nigra; traditional Chinese medicine