Objective: To study the regulatory effect of Liuwei Dihuang Pill (LDP) and Jingui Shenqi Pill (JSP) on cytokines expression in the brain of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mice. Method: The EAE model was induced by subcutaneous injection of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)35~55 and complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA)

supplemented with intraperitoneally pertussis toxin (PTX). The brain of mice was removed on day 12th

25th and 40th post-immunization (PI)

respectively. And the protein expression of TNF-α

TGF-β and IL-17 were assessed by immunohistochemistry method. Result: Compared with the normal control (NC)

the protein expression of TNF-α significantly increased in model group on day 25th PI (P<0.01). Compared with the model group

TNF-α expression decreased in LDP-treated and JSP-treated group significantly (P<0.01). The protein expression of TGF-β in model group significantly decreased compared with NC mice on day 40th PI (P<0.01). Compared with model group

TGF-β protein increased in prednisone acetates (PA)

LDP and JSP-treated groups significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The protein expression of IL-17 in model group significantly increased compared with the NC group on day25th and 40th PI (P<0.01). Compared with model group

IL-17 protein reduced in LDP-treated and JSP-treated groups (P<0.01). The ratio of TNF-α/TGF-β and IL-17/TGF-β significantly increased compared with the NC mice on day 40th PI (P<0.01)

but reduced in PA

LDP and JSP-treated groups(P<0.01). Conclusion: Both LDP and JSP treatment may suppress EAE through regulating the cytokines of TNF-α

TGF-β and IL-17.