Advanced Search

Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine >

2025 , Vol. 45 >Issue 5: 979 - 986

DOI: https://doi.org/10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2025.05.005

Original Articles

Research on the effects and preliminary mechanism of action of Shaoyao Gancao granule (芍药甘草颗粒) on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and T lymphocytes in stressed alopecia areata mice

  • Shuying LYU ,
  • Baoquan QU ,
  • Wenjun LIN ,
  • Dingquan YANG
Expand
  • 1 Department of Dermatology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China
    2 National Medical Center of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
    3 School of Clinical Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China

Received date: 2024-06-22

  Accepted date: 2024-10-30

  Online published: 2025-09-15

Supported by

National Natural Science Foundation of China: Nervo-endocrine-immune Mechanism of Shaoyao-Gancao Decoction for the Treatment of Liver Stagnation and Spleen Deficiency Type Alopecia Areata by Regulating the Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal Axis(81973691)

Fold

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect and mechanism of Shaoyao Gancao granule (SGG, 芍药甘草颗粒) on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and immune imbalance status in stressed alopecia areata (AA) mice, and to provide an objective experimental basis for the clinical application of SGG.

METHODS: Seventy female C57BL/6J mice aged 5-7 weeks were randomly divided into two groups: 10 mice in the blank control group and 60 mice in the mock group. The moulding group received topical imiquimod cream in combination with chronic unpredictable mild stress. On day 10, the moulding group was further divided into six groups: Shaoyao Gancao granule low-dose (SGL), Shaoyao Gancao granule medium-dose (SGM), Shaoyao Gancao granule high-dose (SGH), Antalarmin, and compound glycyrrhizin (CG). On day 24, overall and trichoscopic photographs of mice were taken on day 24 of the experiment; behavioral tests were completed; serum corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and cortisol levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; and T helper cell (Th)1/Th2 and Th17/Treg cell differentiation in peripheral blood T lymphocyte subpopulations was detected by flow cytometry.

RESULTS: The dorsal skin lesions of mice in all SGG groups showed faster hair growth, less dilated skin capillaries, and scaly conditions compared with those in the model group. In the open field test, compared with those of the model group, the moving distance and number of uprights and entries into the central area of the mice in the SGM and SGH groups significantly increased (P < 0.05), while in the forced swimming test, compared with the model group, the rest time of the mice in the SGL, SGM, and SGH groups significantly decreased (P < 0.05). The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results showed that, compared with the model group, the mice in the SGH group had significantly reduced CRH levels (P < 0.05), and the ACTH and cortisol levels in the SGM and SGH groups were significantly reduced (P < 0.05). The flow cytometry results showed that, compared with those in the model group, Th2 levels were significantly higher (P < 0.05), Th17 levels were significantly lower (P < 0.05), the Th1/Th2 ratio was significantly lower (P < 0.05), and the Th17/Treg ratio was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the SGM and SGH groups. The Th1 and Treg cell ratios were reduced in all SGG groups, but the difference was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION: SGG may exert therapeutic effects in AA by modulating the HPA axis and regulating immune imbalance.

Key words： alopecia areata; stress; hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis; T-lymphocytes; Shaoyao Gancao granule

Cite this article

Shuying LYU , Baoquan QU , Wenjun LIN , Dingquan YANG . Research on the effects and preliminary mechanism of action of Shaoyao Gancao granule (芍药甘草颗粒) on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and T lymphocytes in stressed alopecia areata mice[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2025 , 45(5) : 979 -986 . DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2025.05.005

References

1. Ito N, Ito T, Kromminga A, et al. Human hair follicles display a functional equivalent of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and synthesize cortisol. Faseb J 2005; 19: 1332.
2. Lyu SY, Wang L, Duan YH, Huang D, Yang DQ. Prediction of the mechanism of Shaoyao Gancao decoction in the treatment of alopecia areata by network pharmacology and its preliminary verification study. Evid-based Complement Altern Med 2022; 2022: 13.
3. Xu C, Zhang QM, Xu MQ. Study on the relationship between liver controlling dispersion and neurodegenerative diseases based on psychological stress. Huan Qiu Zhong Yi Yao 2021; 14: 230-5.
4. Lu LL. Observation of the relationship between AA constitution theory of TCM and relative factors for AA, TCM syndrom and black dot sign. Nanjing: Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 2017: 1-55.
5. Zhang ZJ (Han dynasty). Shang Han Za Bing Lun. Beijing: People's Medical Publishing House, 2005: 31.
6. Qu YZ, Ma SJ, Zhu GW, et al. Historical evolution and modern research on Shaoyao Gancaotang. Zhong Guo Shi Yan Fang Ji Xue Za Zhi 2020; 26: 216-25.
7. He F, Xu JP, Yang MH, et al. Influence of Shaoyao Gancao decoction on ratio of Treg/Thl7 in rats with asthma. Zhong Hua Zhong Yi Yao Za Zhi 2016, 31: 4477-9.
8. Kim HS, Cho DH, Kim HJ, Lee JY, Cho BK, Park HJ. Immunoreactivity of corticotropin-releasing hormone, adreno-corticotropic hormone and alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone in alopecia areata. Exp Dermatol 2006; 15: 515-22.
9. Zhang XQ, Yu M, Yu W, Weinberg J, Shapiro J, McElwee KJ. Development of alopecia areata is associated with higher central and peripheral hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal tone in the skin graft induced C3H/HeJ mouse model. J Invest Dermatol 2009; 129: 1527-38.
10. Catania A, Gatti S, Colombo G, Lipton JM. Targeting melanocortin receptors as a novel strategy to control inflammation. Pharmacol Rev 2004; 56: 1-29.
11. Zhang Y, Wen JH. Advances in experimental studies on the antidepressant effects and mechanisms of paeoniflorin. Yunnan Zhong Yi Zhong Yao Za Zhi 2018; 39: 78-81.
12. Wang CL, Wang LY, Wang JX, et al. Effects of albiflorin, paeoniflorin on the behavior and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in depressed rats modelized by chronic restraint stress stimulation combined with isolation. Zhong Hua Zhong Yi Yao Za Zhi 2017; 32: 3121-5.
13. Yang DQ, Zheng JW, Zhang YM, Jin YL, Gan CN, Bai YP. Total glucosides of paeony capsule plus compound glycyrrhizin tablets for the treatment of severe alopecia areata in children: a randomized controlled trial. Evid-based Complement Altern Med 2013; 2013: 5.
14. Slominski A. On the role of the corticotropin-releasing hormone signalling system in the aetiology of inflammatory skin disorders. Br J Dermatol 2009; 160: 229-32.
15. Han YM, Sheng YY, Xu F, et al. Imbalance of T-helper 17 and regulatory T cells in patients with alopecia areata. J Dermatol 2015; 42: 981-8.
16. Chen JC, Lin R, Zhang YF, et al. Effect of Shaoyao Gancao decoction on inflammatory injury of posterior cervical muscle based on miR-146a regulation of NF-κB signaling pathway. Kang Fu Xue Bao 2020, 30: 206-11.
17. Cen ZJ, Deng GW, Xiong M. Effectiveness of supplemented Shaoyao Gancao decoction combined with conventional symp-tomatic treatment of atrophic gastritis and its effect on serum IL-6 and IL-17 expression levels. Neimenggu Zhong Yi Yao 2021, 40: 33-4.
18. Lu XY, Ren YW, Yang X, Zhang AH. Effects of modified Paeoniae-Glycyrrhizae decoction in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia on pain, serum neuropeptide Y and substance P levels. Hainan Yi Xue 2021; 32: 31-4.
19. Qin CF. Clinical and immunological mechanism study of Shaoyao Gancao granule in the treatment of severe alopecia areata. Beijing: Beijing University of Chinese Medicine 2020: 1-64.
20. Wang SD. Clinical study on the treatment of severe alopecia areata with Shaoyao Gancao granule. Beijing: Beijing University of Chinese Medicine 2018: 1-63.
Options
Outlines

/

〈 〉