Study on the Mechanism of Liuwei Dihuang Pill Improving the Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract

Aim of the study: The progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the m idbrain subst antia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) is the main pathological feature of Parki nson’s disease(PD), the motor dysfunction of PD are also related to it, and the reason is that the neuron-specifi c loss of autophagy leads to the accumulation of misfolded α-synuclein(α-syn) protein aggregates and cell apoptosis. The experiment made by the research group is aimed at obtaining the results of the α-syn，autophagy- inducing, and anti-apoptosis eff ects of Liuwei Dihuang Pill(LDP) to evaluate any potential antiparkinsonian properties to provide the favorable eff ects on motor symptoms in rotenone-i nduced PD rat models.Materials and methods: rotenone-induced PD rat models were
treated with LDP, the behavioral changes of the rats were detected by the bar test and the narrow beam test, the protein levels of
α-syn，autophagy-related proteins（LC3B-II/LC3B-I, P62）, and apoptosis-rela ted proteins (Bcl-2/ Bax) were measured using
western blot assays.Results and conclusions: It was observed in the model group compared with the control group that LDP im-
proved the behavioral winch including the bar test and the narrow beam test, reduced the co ntent of α-syn, increased the i nduction of autophagy, and reduced the cel l apoptosis. This study suggests that LDP eff ectively improved the behavioral and dopaminergic neuron damage in rotenone-induced PD rat models, and the mechanism of this action may be increased the induction of autophagy and the relief of apoptosis.