Protective Effects of a Combined Herbal Medicine against Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis-Associated Inflammation and Oxidative Stress

Abstract

Despite extensive studies to identify effective curative drugs for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), only riluzole and edaravone have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. However, these drugs only delay disease progression and exhibit adverse effects, necessitating the development of more effective drugs. Herbal medicines are effective against incurable diseases with various pathogenic factors owing to their low toxicity and presence of multiple components, which target multiple organs. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether a combined herbal medicine (CHM), comprising Gastrodia elata, Cnidium officinale Makino, and Ostericum koreanum, affects muscle function and motor neuron death in an animal model of ALS. We treated 8-week-old hSOD1G93A mice with 1 mg/g CHM, administered orally once daily for 6 weeks. Muscle function was measured via a footprint test. Biochemical analyses, including immunoblotting, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry, of the muscles (tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius) and spinal cord of hSOD1G93A mice were performed. The CHM treatment improved movement and reduced motor neuron loss in the mouse spinal cord. It also enhanced anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities and regulated autophagy in the mouse muscles and spinal cord. These findings suggest that CHM has multi-active components that effectively target muscles and the spinal cord, delaying disease progression.