Astragalus Polysaccharide Protects Neurons and Stabilizes Mitochondrial in a Mouse Model of Parkinson Disease

BACKGROUND: Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) have a very good therapeutic effect in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and nerve injury disease. However, research on Parkinson disease (PD) treatment with APS is lacking. MATERIAL/METHODS: The present study was designed to explore the effects of APS on the protection of neurons and mitochondrial in a mouse model of PD using behavioral experiments, and observations of mitochondrial structure and transmembrane potential. RESULTS: It was shown that APS could attenuate 1-methyl-4-pheyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced motor dysfunction (P<0.01), increase the proportion of TH-positive cells (P<0.01), reverse MPTP-induced mitochondrial structural damage, and reduce MPTP-induced high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and increase MPTP-induced decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential. In addition, APS also decreased the bax/bcl2 ratio, and cytochrome-c and caspase-3 protein content (P<0.01) in substantia nigra in our mouse PD model. CONCLUSIONS: APS provided a protective effect on neurons and mitochondrial in a mouse PD model.