Li Nan, Wang Jianping, Ma Jun, Gu Zhiqiang, Jiang Chao, Yu Lie, Fu Xiaojie
Department of Neurology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China ; Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450014, China.
Department of Neurology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China.
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015;2015:103985. doi: 10.1155/2015/103985. Epub 2015 Sep 7.
Cistanches Herba (CH) is thought to be a "Yang-invigorating" material in traditional Chinese medicine. We evaluated neuroprotective effects of Cistanches Herba on Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Moderate AD participants were divided into 3 groups: Cistanches Herba capsule (CH, n = 10), Donepezil tablet (DON, n = 8), and control group without treatment (n = 6). We assessed efficacy by MMSE and ADAS-cog, and investigated the volume changes of hippocampus by 1.5 T MRI scans. Protein, mRNA levels, and secretions of total-tau (T-tau), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin- (IL) 1β (IL-1β) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were detected by Western blot, RT-PCR, and ELISA. The scores showed statistical difference after 48 weeks of treatment compared to control group. Meanwhile, volume changes of hippocampus were slight in drug treatment groups but distinct in control group; the levels of T-tau, TNF-α, and IL-1β were decreased compared to those in control group. Cistanches Herba could improve cognitive and independent living ability of moderate AD patients, slow down volume changes of hippocampus, and reduce the levels of T-tau, TNF-α, and IL-1β. It suggested that Cistanches Herba had potential neuroprotective effects for moderate AD.
肉苁蓉在传统中医中被认为是一种“壮阳”药材。我们评估了肉苁蓉对阿尔茨海默病（AD）患者的神经保护作用。将中度AD参与者分为3组：肉苁蓉胶囊组（CH，n = 10）、多奈哌齐片组（DON，n = 8）和未治疗的对照组（n = 6）。我们通过简易精神状态检查表（MMSE）和阿尔茨海默病评估量表认知部分（ADAS-cog）评估疗效，并通过1.5 T磁共振成像（MRI）扫描研究海马体的体积变化。通过蛋白质印迹法、逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）和酶联免疫吸附测定（ELISA）检测脑脊液（CSF）中总tau蛋白（T-tau）、肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）和白细胞介素-1β（IL-1β）的蛋白质、信使核糖核酸（mRNA）水平及分泌情况。与对照组相比，治疗48周后评分显示出统计学差异。同时，药物治疗组海马体的体积变化轻微，而对照组明显；与对照组相比，T-tau、TNF-α和IL-1β的水平降低。肉苁蓉可改善中度AD患者的认知和独立生活能力，减缓海马体的体积变化，并降低T-tau、TNF-α和IL-1β的水平。这表明肉苁蓉对中度AD具有潜在的神经保护作用。
