Zhichan powder regulates nigrostriatal dopamine synthesis and metabolism in Parkinson's disease rats☆

In this study, rat models of Parkinson’s disease induced by substantia nigra injection of 6-hydroxy-dopamine were intragastrically administered Zhichan powder daily for 50 days. Reverse transcription PCR results showed that tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA expression in the rat substantia nigra was significantly increased, while monoamine oxidase B mRNA expression was significantly decreased in the Zhichan powder group, compared with the model group. In addition, the levels of striatal dopamine and homovanillic acid, the ratio of dopamine to homovanillic acid, and the activity of blood superoxide dismutase were all higher in the Zhichan powder group than in the model group, but the content of malondialdehyde in blood was lower. Our experimental findings indicate that Zhichan powder has an antioxidant effect, it can regulate the expression of monoamine oxidase B and tyrosine hydroxylase in the substantia nigra of Parkinson’s disease rats, and it can facilitate the secretion of striatal dopamine and its metabolite homovanillic acid.