Oxidative Stress in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3 and Its Attenuation by Herbal Remedies in Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Systematic Review.

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder that gives rise to motor incoordination and progressive functional disabilities. Although pharmacological interventions have revealed promising prospects in the management of SCA3, adverse effects may become unbearable. The use of herbal remedies in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) may serve as potential alternative medicines to delay the progression of the disease. This systematic review is intended to identify, appraise, and summarize the findings of studies pertaining to the therapeutic roles of herbal remedies in TCM targeting oxidative stress in the management of SCA3. A literature search for relevant articles published from 1 January 2013 to 30 June 2023 in three databases, namely PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, was carried out according to the procedures of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). A total of ten preclinical studies met the inclusion criteria of the systematic review. We recognized the therapeutic potential of , , sp., , , , , , sp., , , , , and . We identified the types of preclinical models expressing polyglutamine (polyQ) expanded mutant protein (mATXN3), inducers of oxidative stress that mimic the SCA3 pathogenesis, and effective doses of the herbal remedies. The modes of action contributing to the attenuation of oxidative stress are activation of antioxidant pathways, ubiquitin-proteasome system and autophagy, regulation of apoptosis, proinflammatory signaling pathway and chaperones, regulation of mitochondrial function and biogenesis, and restoration of neurotransmission and synaptic plasticity. In conclusion, herbal remedies in TCM may possibly delay the progression of SCA3, therefore providing justification for clinical trials.