A Chinese Herbal Preparation, Xiao-Er-An-Shen Decoction, Exerts Neuron Protection by Modulation of Differentiation and Antioxidant Activity in Cultured PC12 Cells.

Zhonggui Li,Kelly Y C Lam,Airong Qi,Jianping Chen,Ping Yao,Karl W K Tsim,Xiaoyan Liu,Tiegang Yi,Tina T X Dong

doi:10.1155/2018/8670421

Abstract

Xiao-Er-An-Shen Decoction (XEASD), a Chinese herbal formula, has been used in clinic for treating insomnia and mental excitement in children and adolescents. However, less of scientific data supports its effectiveness in clinic. Here, we aim to study the role of XEASD in regulating neuron differentiation and antioxidant activity. An HPLC-MS was used to chemically standardize herbal extract of XEASD. The standardized herbal extracts of XEASD (0.3–3.0 mg/mL) were applied onto cultured PC12 cells for 48 hours. The treatment with XEASD extract induced neurite outgrowth of PC12 cells in a dose-dependent manner, having the highest response by ~50% of differentiated cells. Application of XEASD extract dose dependently stimulated expressions of NF68, NF160, and NF200 in cultured PC12 cells. Furthermore, XEASD activated the phosphorylation of cAMP responsive element binding protein on PC12 cells, the effect of which was blocked by H89, a protein kinase A inhibitor. Moreover, XEASD showed free radical scavenging activity and stimulated the transcriptional activity of ARE. These results supported the neurobeneficial effects of XEASD in the induction of neurite outgrowth and protection against oxidative stress and could be useful for neurological diseases, in which neurotrophin deficiency and oxidation insult are involved.

Highlights

Sleep disturbances are widely spread in children and adolescents, and the prevalence of sleep-related problems was estimated to be ∼43% [1]
A typical LC-MS profile was developed for Xiao-Er-An-Shen Decoction (XEASD) extract (Figure 1(b)), which was employed as a parameter for the identification of XEASD
The results demonstrated that application of XEASD extract stimulated the luciferase activity in a dose-dependent manner, with highest response at about 5-fold increase (Figure 5(b), lower panel). tBHQ treatment was used to authenticate the activation of pARELuc, which served as a positive control here (Figure 5)

Summary

Introduction

Sleep disturbances are widely spread in children and adolescents, and the prevalence of sleep-related problems was estimated to be ∼43% [1]. Insomnia is characterized by a difficulty in falling asleep and/or staying asleep, which is the most common sleep disorder with high rate of serious conditions [2]. It was reported that people with insomnia have a twofold risk to develop depression compared to people with no difficulty in falling asleep [3]. Hypnotics are primarily used in clinic to treat insomnia, yet the treatment of this is accompanied by many side effects. This is not an ideal therapeutic regimen for children and adolescents. There is a need to develop an alternative medicine for the treatment of insomnia in children and adolescents

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Conclusion