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The Antioxidative Action of ZTP by Increasing Nrf2/ARE Signal Pathway

Liang Yang1,2, Bing Xu3, Chunxu Yuan1

  • 1School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : Ecam
|April 16, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Zhengtian Pill (ZTP) combats oxidative stress and improves depression-like behaviors in rats. It enhances antioxidant defenses by boosting ATP and SOD, while reducing ROS and MDA, suggesting ZTP as a potential therapeutic for oxidative stress-related diseases.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology
  • Traditional Chinese Medicine

Background:

  • Oxidative stress is implicated in over 25,000 brain diseases, causing cellular damage and contributing to neuronal dysfunction.
  • Reactive oxygen species (ROS) lead to impaired proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, resulting in energy imbalance, cell death, and mutations.
  • Zhengtian Pill (ZTP), a traditional Chinese medicine, is known to improve blood viscosity and circulation, but its molecular mechanisms against oxidative stress are unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the molecular mechanisms of Zhengtian Pill (ZTP) in mitigating oxidative stress and improving depression-like behaviors.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of ZTP in an LPS-induced rat model of depression.

Main Methods:

  • Rats were treated with varying doses of ZTP (0.17, 0.34, 0.7 g/kg) via intraperitoneal injection daily for 30 days.
  • Behavioral tests were conducted to assess depression-like behaviors.
  • Levels of ATP, SOD, ROS, and MDA in brain tissue were measured.
  • The expression of the Nrf2/HO-1/P38 pathway was analyzed.

Main Results:

  • ZTP significantly improved depression-like behaviors induced by LPS in rats.
  • ZTP demonstrated prolonged resistance to oxidative stress (over 72 hours).
  • ZTP treatment increased ATP and SOD levels while decreasing ROS and MDA levels in the brain.
  • ZTP upregulated the expression of Nrf2/HO-1/P38, indicating activation of antioxidant pathways.

Conclusions:

  • Zhengtian Pill (ZTP) exhibits significant antioxidant and anti-depressive effects.
  • ZTP functions by enhancing the Nrf2/HO-1/P38 signaling pathway, thereby combating oxidative stress.
  • ZTP holds potential as a therapeutic agent for various diseases linked to oxidative stress injury.

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