[Preliminary experimental study on therapeutic mechanism of kangzhen zhijing capsule in treating Parkinson's disease].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the therapeutic mechanism of Kangzhen Zhijing Capsule (KZZJC) on rats with Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: PD rat model was established by microinjection of 6-hydroxydopamine solution into left substantia nigra zona compacta (SNZC). Model rats were randomly divided into 3 groups and treated with KZZJC, levodopa and normal saline respectively for 30 days. The rotational behavior of rats before and after treatment was observed. Then rats were sacrificed and relevant indexes of left SNZC and striatum were examined. RESULTS: In rats treated with KZZJC, the rotational behavior was improved (P < 0.05), the levels of dopamine (DA) content and DA/homovanillic acid (HVA) ratio in striatum, and glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione in SNZC increased, but malondialdehyde in SNZC decreased, as compared with those in rats treated with normal saline, the difference was significant (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). Rotational behavior in rats treated by levodopa was improved significantly (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: KZZJC could partially improve the rotational behavior in PD model rats, increase DA content and DA/HVA ratio in striatum. The mechanism might be the reducing of free radical damage and DA catabolism.