Kai-Xin-San, a Chinese Herbal Decoction Containing Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Polygalae Radix, Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma, and Poria, Stimulates the Expression and Secretion of Neurotrophic Factors in Cultured Astrocytes

Kai-xin-san (KXS), a Chinese herbal decoction prescribed by Sun Simiao in Beiji Qianjin Yaofang about 1400 years ago, contains Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Polygalae Radix, Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma, and Poria. In China, KXS has been used to treat stress-related psychiatric diseases with the symptoms o...

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Published in:Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine 2013-01, Vol.2013 (2013), p.1-9
Main Authors: Xu, Sherry Li, Zhu, Kevin Yue, Choi, Roy Chi-Yan, Yan, Artemis Lu, Dong, Tina Ting-Xia, Tsim, Karl Wah-Keung
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antidepressants
Astrocytes
Brain research
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor
Chinese medicine
Ginseng
Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor
Growth factors
Herbal medicine
Herbs
Mental depression
Mental disorders
mRNA
Nerve growth factor
Neurosciences
Neurotransmitters
Neurotrophic factors
Poria
Protein kinase
Rodents
Secretion
Trends
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Summary:Kai-xin-san (KXS), a Chinese herbal decoction prescribed by Sun Simiao in Beiji Qianjin Yaofang about 1400 years ago, contains Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Polygalae Radix, Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma, and Poria. In China, KXS has been used to treat stress-related psychiatric diseases with the symptoms of depression and forgetfulness. Although animal study has supported the antidepression function of KXS, the mechanism in cellular level is still unknown. Here, a chemically standardized water extract of KXS was applied onto cultured astrocytes in exploring the action mechanisms of KXS treatment, which significantly stimulated the expression and secretion of neurotrophic factors, including NGF, BDNF, and GDNF, in a dose-dependent manner: the stimulation was both in mRNA and protein levels. In addition, the water extracts of four individual herbs did not significantly stimulate the expression of neurotrophic factors, which could explain the optimized effect of KXS in a herbal decoction. The KXS-induced expression of neurotrophic factors did not depend on signaling mediated by estrogen receptor or protein kinase. The results suggested that the antidepressant-like action of KXS might be mediated by an increase of expression of neurotrophic factors in astrocytes, which fully supported the clinical usage of this decoction.
ISSN:1741-427X
1741-4288
DOI:10.1155/2013/731385