Bojungikgi-tang Improves Muscle and Spinal Cord Function in an Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Model

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a motor neuron disease characterized by progressive motor function impairment, dysphagia, and respiratory failure. Owing to the complexity of its pathogenic mechanisms, an effective therapy for ALS is lacking. Herbal medicines with multiple targets have good efficacy and low adverse reactions for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, the effects of Bojungikgi-tang (BJIGT), an herbal medicine with eight component herbs, on muscle and spinal cord function were evaluated in an ALS animal model. Animals were randomly divided into three groups: a non-transgenic group (nTg, n=24), a hSOD1(G93A) transgenic group (Tg, n=24), and a hSOD1(G93A) transgenic group in which 8-week-old mice were orally administered BJIGT (1mg/g) once daily for 6weeks (Tg+BJIGT, n=24). The effects of BJIGT were evaluated using a rotarod test, foot-printing, and survival analyses based on Kaplan-Meier survival curves. To determine the biological mechanism underlying the effects of BJIGT in hSOD1(G93A) mice, western blotting, transmission electron microscopy, and Bungarotoxin staining were used. BJIGT improved motor function and extended the survival duration of hSOD1(G93A) mice. In addition, BJIGT had protective effects, including anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects, in both the spinal cord and muscle of hSOD1(G93A) mice. Our results demonstrated that BJIGT causes muscle atrophy and the denervation of neuromuscular junctions in the gastrocnemius of hSOD1(G93A) mice. The components of BJIGT may alleviate the symptoms of ALS via different mechanisms, and accordingly, BJIGT treatment may be an effective therapeutic approach.