The condition is caused by autoantibodies that target the neuromuscular junction—most often the acetylcholine receptor (AChR)—interfering with nerve signal transmission. MG affects up to 350 people per million, with a higher prevalence among women.

Although current treatments such as glucocorticoids, immunosuppressants, biologics, and surgical removal of the thymus can help manage symptoms, they often come with serious side effects, high costs, and a risk of relapse. This has spurred growing interest in alternative therapies that offer similar benefits with fewer drawbacks.

In China, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has a long history of use in treating MG. One such herbal blend—Jianpi Yiqi Busui Prescription (JYBP), which includes Astragalus membranaceus, Codonopsis pilosula, and Rehmannia glutinosa—has shown clinical promise. However, its underlying mechanisms remained unclear.

Now, researchers from Changchun University of Chinese Medicine have conducted a preclinical study that explores how JYBP works, using a rat model that mimics the human form of MG.

Their findings, published in the journal Biomolecules and Biomedicine, suggest that JYBP may regulate key immune pathways involved in the disease—potentially offering a new therapeutic approach.

Herbal therapy matches standard treatment in preclinical model

In the study, rats were induced with MG-like symptoms and treated with various doses of JYBP. The researchers tracked body weight, muscle strength, fatigue resistance, and antibody levels.

They found that JYBP significantly improved symptoms and reduced disease severity. Notably, high-dose JYBP produced effects comparable to those of prednisone—a commonly prescribed steroid—without the known side effects.

JYBP also lowered levels of anti-AChR antibodies, which play a central role in MG. Additionally, the herbal formula helped rebalance the immune system by reducing inflammatory Th17 and Th1 cells, while increasing protective Th2 and regulatory T cells.

Targeting a key inflammatory pathway

One of the study's most important findings was JYBP's effect on the TAK1/P38 MAPK/eIF-4E signaling pathway—a pathway that promotes Th17 cell activity and the production of inflammatory cytokines. JYBP appeared to block activation of this pathway, reducing levels of IL-17 and other pro-inflammatory molecules.

This suggests that the herbal blend may work by dampening harmful immune responses at the molecular level, offering both symptom relief and deeper disease control.

Implications for safer, more integrated mg treatment

These results highlight the potential of traditional medicine to contribute to modern autoimmune therapy. With comparable efficacy to prednisone but fewer risks, JYBP could serve as a complementary or alternative treatment option for MG patients—especially those who cannot tolerate standard therapies.

The study also points to broader applications, including the treatment of other autoimmune diseases driven by Th17-mediated inflammation. However, researchers caution that further work is needed to evaluate JYBP's effects on other immune cell types and to isolate the active components within the formula.

This study offers valuable insight into how herbal therapies might be integrated into evidence-based care for MG and other autoimmune conditions. As the search continues for safer, more effective treatments, JYBP represents a promising candidate worthy of future clinical trials.

More information: Zhuming Chen et al, Jianpi Yiqi Busui prescription alleviates myasthenia gravis by regulating Th17 through the TAK1/P38 MAPK/eIF-4E signaling pathway, Biomolecules and Biomedicine (2025). DOI: 10.17305/bb.2025.11546

by Association of Basic Medical Sciences of FBIH