Jujube-containing decoctions, used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, show neuro-protective and differentiating properties and enhance the function of multi-herbal concoctions.
The research first studied the effect of three chemically standardized jujube-containing decoctions named Guizhi Tang, Neibu Dangguijianzhong Tang and ZaoTang on cultured PC12 cells. To do this, they assessed the protein expressions of neurofilaments following the herbal treatment through a process known as western blot. The research team also observed neurite outgrowth in the PC12 cells post-treatment using a light microscope equipped with phase-contrast condenser and SPOT imaging software. Furthermore, they evaluated the protective effect of the herbal extracts on tBHP-induced cytotoxicity using an MTT assay. Additionally, they transfected a luciferase reporter construct carrying repeats of antioxidant response elements and a downstream reporter gene into PC12 cells to understand if the decoctions could trigger transcriptional activation of these response elements. The mRNA expression of antioxidant enzymes following the herbal treatment was analyzed via quantitative real-time PCR.
The study found that these jujube-containing decoctions exhibited similar protective and beneficial properties for the brain. The decoctions were observed to induce the protein expression of neurofilaments and cause neurite outgrowth. These herbal treatments were found to protect PC12 cells against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Further, they triggered the mRNA expressions of essential anti-oxidation genes, resulting in the activation of antioxidant response elements. This study highlights the enhancement effect of jujube in a multi-herbal decoction, demonstrating its neuro-protective and differentiating property.
