抑郁症是帕金森病（PD）中常见的共病症，抑郁症的治疗可以显著支持PD的管理。紫参平脱颗粒（ZPG）是一种传统的中草药方剂，可能有助于改善PD患者的抑郁症状。然而，ZPG的作用机制尚不清楚。本研究旨在调查ZPG对PD患者抑郁症状的影响，包括脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）、白细胞介素-1β（IL-1β）、白细胞介素-6（IL-6）、C-反应蛋白（CRP）和肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）的血清水平。将80例接受左旋多巴治疗但仍经历轻度至中度抑郁症状的PD患者随机分配为接受12周ZPG治疗组（n = 40）或安慰剂组（n = 40）。使用汉密尔顿抑郁量表17项（HAM-D-17）评估12周内抑郁症状的改变，使用统一帕金森病评定量表（UPDRS）第3部分评估同样时期内运动症状的改变。在基线和治疗后测量BDNF、IL-1β、IL-6、CRP和TNF-α的血清水平。共有71名参与者完成了研究。治疗后，两组的HAM-D评分均显著降低。安慰剂组BDNF水平下降，而ZPG组治疗后IL-6水平增加。在组与时间的交互作用分析中，与安慰剂组相比，ZPG组的HAM-D评分降低更多，IL-6水平增加更多。相反，安慰剂组的BDNF水平降低更多，与ZPG组相比。然而，在基线到治疗后的UPDRS第3部分改变得分或白细胞介素-1β、CRP或TNF-α的血清水平变化中未观察到显著的组间差异。ZPG可能有潜力改善PD患者的抑郁症状，其潜在机制可能涉及缓解血清BDNF水平下降和IL-6水平增加。版权所有 © 2023. 由Elsevier公司出版。

Depression is a common comorbidity in Parkinson's Disease (PD) and treatment of depression can significantly support PD management. Zishen pingchan granules (ZPG), a traditional Chinese herbal formula, may help ameliorate depressive symptoms in PD patients. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of ZPG remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the impact of ZPG on serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in PD patients with depression.Eighty PD patients treated with pramipexole but still experiencing mild to moderate depression symptoms were randomly allocated to a group receiving 12-week ZPG treatment (n = 40) or placebo (n = 40). The Hamilton Depression Scale 17 items (HAM-D-17) was utilized to evaluate changes in depressive symptoms from baseline over 12 weeks, while the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scales (UPDRS) part 3 was employed to assess changes in motor symptoms over the same duration. Serum levels of BDNF, IL-1β, IL-6, CRP, and TNF-α were measured at baseline and post-treatment.Seventy-one participants completed the study. Following treatment, both groups showed significantly reduced HAMD scores. The placebo group demonstrated a decrease in BDNF levels, while the ZPG group showed an increase in IL-6 levels post-treatment. In the examination of the group-time interaction, the ZPG group exhibited a greater decrease in HAMD scores and increase in IL-6 levels compared to the placebo group. Conversely, the placebo group showed a greater decrease in BDNF levels compared to the ZPG group. However, no significant group differences were observed in UPDRS part 3 change scores or serum levels of IL-1β, CRP, or TNF-α change from baseline.ZPG may potentially ameliorate depressive symptoms in PD patients, with the potential mechanism involving mitigation of reductions in serum BDNF level and an increase in IL-6 level.Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.