A “Yang-invigorating” Chinese herbal suppository preparation relieves symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s disease
K.M. Ko1*, K. Chan2, L. Shek3, J. Yeung2 and S.H. Chui2
1Department of Biochemistry, Hong Kong University of Science &Technology, 2Research and Development
Department, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, 3Medical Clinic, Suit 613 Melbourne Plaza,
Queen’s Road, Central, Hong Kong SAR, China
Correspondent author: Tel: 852-2358-7298; Email: [email protected]
An exploratory clinical study was conducted to investigate the effect of treatment with a
“Yang- invigorating” Chinese herbal suppository preparation (ViNeuro) on 9 subjects (40-69 of age;
6 males and 3 females) with Parkinson’s diseases (PD) for 3.5-14 years. During the 6- month trial
period, 8 out of 9 patients were also taking one to three types of anti-Parkinsonian drugs. After
taking ViNeuro for 6 months, all patients reported to have improvement in various Parkinsonian
symptoms, particularly with a response rate of 100% in relieving rigidity and tremor. The relief on
“Yang-deficiency” symptoms was also observed, with response rates ranging from 67-86%.
ViNeuro may produce the symptom-relieving effect in patients suffering from PD by virtue of its
“Yang- invigorating” (i.e. ATP generation-stimulatory) and antioxidant actions.
Keywords: Parkinson’s disease, Chinese medicine Introduction
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder clinically characterized by
bradykinesia, rigidity, and tremor (1). The therapeutic approach for the treatment of PD has so far
been palliative, and the drugs also cause numerous undesirable side effects (1). Clinical observation
has revealed the gradual development of “Yang-deficiency” symptoms in PD patients according to
Chinese medicine. The enhancement of mitochondrial ATP generation has been proposed to be the
pharmacological basis of “Yang-invigoration” in Chinese medicine (2). A “Yang- invigorating”
Chinese herbal suppository preparation (ViNeuro, previously called VI-28) has been shown to
produce “Yang”-promoting effect (3) and enhance red cell antioxidant status in middle-aged healthy
male subjects (4). Earlier experimental studies also indicated that ViNeuro pretreatment produced
liver and heart protection against oxidant injury in rodents (5). Given the presence of
“Yang-deficiency” and the involvement of free radical- mediated processes as well as mitochondrial
dysfunction (6, 7) in the pathogenesis of PD, it is of therapeutic interest to examine whether
ViNeuro can produce any symptom-relieving effect on patients suffering from PD. In the present
study, the effect of ViNeuro treatment on “Yang-deficiency” and Parkinsonian symptoms was
Materials and Methods
ViNeuro suppository was a multi-component Chinese herbal formula comprising Radix Ginseng,
Cornu Cervi, Semen Allii Tuberosi, Fructus Evodiae, Rhizoma Kaempferiae etc., as described in
Mak et al. (4). An exploratory clinical study was conducted to investigate the effect of ViNeuro
treatment on 9 subjects (40-69 of age; 6 males and 3 females) with PD for 3.5-14 years. All subjects
signed a written informed consent before the commencement of the trial. During the 6-month trial
period, all patients took ViNeuro at a daily dose recommended by the manufacturer. Eight out of 9
patients were also taking one to three types of the following anti-Parkinsonian drugs: Madopar
(Levodopa + Benserazide), Sinemet (Levodopa + Cardidopa), Bromocriptine, Artane (Benhexol)
and Selegilene. Questionnaire on changes in “Yang-deficiency” and Parkinsonian symptoms was
Table 1 ViNeuro treatment produced symptom-relieving effect in patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease No. of Patients Patients with Patients with Percentage of Complaints Symptoms improvement Parkinsonian Symptoms “Yang-deficency” Symptoms
As shown in Table 1, after taking ViNeuro for 6 months, all patients reported to have improvement
in various Parkinsonian symptoms, particularly with a response rate of 100% in relieving rigidity
and tremor. The relief on “Yang-deficiency” symptoms was also observed, with response rates
Conclusion
One of the oldest concepts maintains that a failure in producing energy would impair the
functioning of the central nervous system. Given that ViNeuro possesses “Yang- invigorating”
property that can enhance mitochondrial ATP generation, the symptom-relieving effect afforded by
ViNeuro treatment in PD patients may be related to its ability to enhance the energy status of the
brain. ViNeuro may produce the symptom-relieving effect in patients suffering from PD by virtue of
its “Yang- invigorating” (i.e. ATP generation-stimulatory) and antioxidant actions.
Acknowledgement
This study was sponsored by Vigconic Life Sciences Co. Ltd., Hong Kong, China.
References
(1) Youdim MB, Riederer. Understanding Parkinson’s disease. Sci. Amer. 276: 52-59, 1997.
(2) Ko KM, Mak DHF, Chiu PY, Poo MKT. Pharmacological basis of ‘Yang- invigoration’ in Chinese
(3) Chui SH, Ko KM. Anti-aging effects of a Chinese medicine preparation on elderly male subjects.
Proc. 2nd Asia Pacific Conference and Exhibition on Anti Aging Medicine 2003, Singapore, September, p.73.
(4) Mak DHF, Chiu PY, Poon MKT, Ng TTL, Chung YK, Lam BYH, Du Y, Ko KM. A
Yang-promoting Chinese herbal suppository preparation enhances the antioxidant status of red
cells in male human subjects. Phytotherapy Res. 18: 525-530, 2004.
(5) Ko KM, Mak DHF, Poon MKT, Chiu PY. Antioxidant potential of a Chinese medicine preparation
in vitro and in vivo/ex vivo. Proc. 2nd Asia Pacific Conference and Exhibition on Anti Aging Medicine 2003, Singapore, September, p.50.
(6) Greenamyre JT, Hastings TG. Parkinson’s disease – Divergent causes, convergent mechanisms.
(7) Bharath S, Hsu M, Kaur D, Rajagopalan S, Andersen JK. Glutathione, iron and Parkinson’s disease.Biochem Pharmacol 64: 1037-1048, 2002.
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