Objective:To investigate the effect of puerarin on the expressions of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1)

quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO-1) in substantia nigra tissue of Parkinson's rat model induced by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). Method: Parkinson's rat model was established

the rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: model group

Madopar group (40 mg·kg-1)

low-

medium-and high-dosage groups of puerarin (20

40

80 mg·kg-1). The drugs were intragastrically perfused to rats daily for 30 consecutive days. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD)

glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) as well as the contents of malonaldehyde (MDA) in substantia nigra tissue were tested by biochemical method. The morphologic changes in nerve cells of substantia nigra were observed by HE staining. The expression of HO-1 mRNA was tested by RT-PCR assay. And the NQO-1 protein expression was tested by in situ hybridization analysis. Result: Compared to model group

puerarin effectively increased the activities of GSH-Px and SOD in substantia nigra tissue of parkinson's rats

while the MDA content was reduced (P<0.01). And alleviated the nerve cell damages in substantia nigra induced by 6-OHDA. And the level of HO-1 mRNA in substantia nigra was down-regulated (P<0.01). The expression of NQO-1 protein was notably up-regulated. Conclusion: The findings indicate that puerarin effectively reverse the neuronal cells injure in substantia nigra of Parkinson's disease(PD) rats induced by 6-OHDA

and its underlying mechanism may be linked to suppression of oxidative stress pathway.