Experimental Studies on Zhenchan Ning for Parkinson's Disease

[ Objective ] To investigate the mechanism of Zhenchan Ning (ZN) for Parkinson's Disease ( PD). [Methods] Rat models of PD were established by striatal infusion of 6-hydroxy dopamine (6-OHDA) . Effect of ZN on rat rotating behavior was observed, and the contents of dopamine ( DA), homovanillic acid (HVA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) in blood and corpus striatum were also detected. [Results] As compared with those before treatment, high-dose ZN could improve the rotating behavior and decrease the rotating frequency ( P 0.05), increase GSH content in blood ( P 0.05) and corpus striatum (P 0.01) and serum GSH-PX activity (P 0.01), decrease MDA content in serum and corpus striatum (P0.01), increase DA content in corpus striatum and reduce the HVA/DA ratio. Low-dose ZN exerted no effect on the rotating behavior, GSH-PX activity, MDA content in striatum, DA and HVA/DA ( P 0.05), but could decrease serum MDA content (P 0.01) and increase striatal GSH content. [Conclusion] ZN can improve the symptoms of PD in a dose-effect manner. Its mechanism may be related to the improvement of bodily and striatal oxidization stress, the protection of neurons and the indirect supplement of striatal DA content.