Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2001 Jan; 21(1): 10-4.

[Clinical and experimental study on multiple sclerosis with bushen gusui tablet]

Liu XY, Sun Y.

Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of TCM, Beijing 100091.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of Bushen Gusui tablet (BSGS) in treating multiple sclerosis (MS) and its effects on experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in guinea pigs. METHODS: Forty-three MS patients were treated with BSGS and their clinical symptoms, signs of nerve function, recurrent frequency, evoked potential and changes in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were observed. The EAE model of guinea pigs was induced by homogenate of rabbit spinal cord and complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), the animals were treated with BSGS and compared with prednisone acetate, which was served as control. The mortality and pathomorphology of EAE animals were observed. The contents of serum interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) as well as myelin basic protein (MBP) were determined. RESULTS: BSGS could improve symptoms and signs of MS patients and reduce recurrent frequency. The total effective rate was 88.37%. High dose BSGS could obviously reduce incidence of EAE, inhibit inflammatory reaction of brain and spinal cord as well as demyelination, and simultaneously inhibit the activity of serum IL-2, IL-6, TNF and MBP, in comparing with model group (P < 0.01). There were insignificant difference as compared with prednisone acetate group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: BSGS had certain effect on both MS patients and EAE model animals, which indicated that it was worth further studying and clinical application.