Objective: To investigate the effects of Zhengan Xifeng Tang on the irritable degree and conjunctival congestion in Parkinson's disease (PD) rats with syndrome of hyperactivity of liver-yang

and the possible mechanisms.Method: A total of 105 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the normal control group

sham-operated group

model group

selegiline group (0.9 mg·kg-1·d-1)

and high

medium and low-dose Zhengan Xifeng decoction groups (32

16

8 g·kg-1)

with 15 in each group. Rats were given 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) through intra-substantia nigra injection and Fuzitang through intragastric administration for four weeks to prepare rat model of PD with syndrome of hyperactivity of liver-yang. Caspase-3 activities were measured by using spectrophotometry. Real-time PCR and Western blot were used to analyze tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and NADPH quinone oxidoreductase-1(NQO-1) mRNA and protein expressions.Result: Compared with sham-operated group

model group showed significant increases in irritable degree and conjunctival congestion

and NQO-1 mRNA and protein expressions in midbrain tissues

and decrease in TH protein expression (P<0.05). Compared with the model group

Zhengan Xifeng Tang group showed significant decreases in irritable degree and conjunctival congestion and increases in TH protein expression and NQO-1 mRNA and protein expressions (P<0.05). However

the above-mentioned markers were unaffected in selegiline group.Conclusion: Effect of liver-wind-tranquilizing of Zhengan Xifeng Tang may be correlated with up-regulation in gene expression of TH and NQO-1 in the midbrain of PD rats with syndrome of hyperactivity of liver-Yang.