Therapeutic Strategies for Parkinson’s Disease: The Ancient Meets the Future—Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine, Electroacupuncture, Gene Therapy and Stem Cells

Abstract

In China, it has been estimated that there are more than 2.0 million people suffering from Parkinson's disease, which is currently becoming one of the most common chronic neurodegenerative disorders during recent years. For many years, scientists have struggled to find new therapeutic approaches for this disease. Since 1994, our research group led by Drs. Ji-Sheng Han and Xiao-Min Wang of Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University has developed several prospective treatment strategies for the disease. These studies cover the traditional Chinese medicine-herbal formula or acupuncture, and modern technologies such as gene therapy or stem cell replacement therapy, and have achieved some original results. It hopes that these data may be beneficial for the research development and for the future clinical utility for treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Triptolide inhibits osteoclast formation, bone resorption, RANKL-mediated NF-қB activation and titanium particle-induced osteolysis in a mouse model

“…Triptolide has also been shown to display a therapeutic effect on solid tumor, leukemia, and a variety of inflammatory disorders, which is often accompanied by increased osteoclast formation (Chen, 2001;Wang et al, 2008;Yang et al, 2003;Yao et al, 2008). Some preclinical in vivo and in vitro studies report that triptolide delays onset of arthritis, lowers the arthritis scores and reduces the expression of osteoclast-activating factors (Hu et al, 2006;Matta et al, 2009;Xiao et al, 2009).…”

A cytological observation of the fluid in the primo-nodes and vessels on the surfaces of mammalian internal organs

“…Previous works have shown that acupuncture and oriental herbal treatments can regulate gene expression that is related to the modulation of intracellular signal transduction and cell development (Shang 2001;Wang et al 2008;Kang 2008).…”

Recent progress in neurodegenerative disorder research in China

“…Han and Wang [39] of the Neuroscience Research Institute of Peking University has developed several prospective treatment strategies for PD. Their studies involve traditional Chinese medicine -herbal formula or acupuncture and modern technologies, such as gene therapy or stem cell replacement therapy.…”

“…Their studies involve traditional Chinese medicine -herbal formula or acupuncture and modern technologies, such as gene therapy or stem cell replacement therapy. For detailed information, please refer to their recent review [39]. Here we cite an example, the anti-inflammatory effect of triptolide (PG490).…”