Neuroprotective effects of San-Jia-Fu-Mai decoction: Studies on the in vitro and in vivo Models of Parkinson's Disease

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate whether 70% aqueous ethanol extract of San-Jia-Fu-Mai decoction extract (SJFMDE) could protect against 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+)-induced oxidative stress in PC12 cells and 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced motor function deficits in mice. Materials and Methods: The cell viability, the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH) in the MPP+-treated PC12 cells were measured. Motor function deficits and dopamine (DA) level in the brain striatum and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive cells in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) of the MPTP-treated mice were determined. Results: The results showed that SJFMDE could reduce cell death and the levels of ROS and MDA while increase the level of GSH in the MPP+-treated PC12 cells. In addition, in vivo studies showed that oral administration of SJFMDE (3, 6, and 12 g/kg) significantly improved the motor function deficits induced by MPTP and enhanced the DA level in the striatum and TH-positive neuronal cells in SNc of the MPTP-treated mice. Conclusions: Our results revealed that SJFMDE possessed neuroprotective effects against neurotoxicity induced by MPP + and motor function deficits induced by MPTP via suppressing oxidative stress and increasing the levels of DA and TH, indicating that SJFMDE might be a promising Chinese medicine formula for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.