Neuroprotective effects of Go-sha-jinki-Gan in a Parkinson's disease model

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K09299
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: General internal medicine(including psychosomatic medicine)
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Baba Kousuke 大阪大学, 医学系研究科, 特任講師(常勤) (90750159)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 神経疾患 / 牛車腎気丸 / 神経炎症 / 漢方薬

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We examined the anti-neuroinflammatory effects of Go-sha-jinki-Gan (GJG), a herbal medicine used in clinical practice, using a model of central nervous system disease. Using two animal models with different pathological mechanisms, a drug-induced Parkinson's disease model and a experimental autoimmune myelitis model, we confirmed biochemically and pathologically that GJG suppresses the expression of the proinflammatory cytokine TNFα by inhibiting p38 phosphorylation, and then inhibits the activation and aggregation of microglia and astrocytes. These results indicate that GJG inhibits neuroinflammation in the central nervous system by suppressing the phosphorylation of p38 in microglia through oral administration. These results were published in the journal Neurotherapeutics.

Free Research Field

神経内科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

これまで臨床現場で使用されてきた牛車腎気丸（GJG）が神経障害に効果を有することは経験的に知られてきた。本研究でその機序を生化学的に明らかにしすることで科学的な裏付けが示す事が出来たと考える。また、今回の研究成果から経口投与で中枢神経系での炎症反応を抑制することが示され、本剤の臨床応用の可能性を拡げたと考える。