OBJECTIVE: To probe into the clinical efficacy of Wumei pills combined with paroxetine in the treatment of depression of liver yang-deficiency type

and its effect on T helper cell-17（Th17）/T regulatory cell（Treg） balance and expression of related cytokines. METHODS: Totally 92 patients with depression of liver yang-deficiency type admitted into Guangzhou Hui’ai Hospital from May 2017 to Aug. 2019 were selected and divided into observation group and control group via random number table

with 46 cases in each. The observation group was given Wumei pills combined with paroxetine

while the control group was treated with paroxetine alone

both groups were treated for 8 weeks. The clinical efficacy

scores of Hamilton Rating Scale（HAMD-17） before treatment and at 2

4

8 weeks after treatment

scores of treatment emergent symptom scale（ TESS） at 1

2

4

8 weeks after treatment

interleukin-17（IL-17）

interleukin-10（IL-10） and expression level of Th17/Treg in peripheral blood of both groups before and after treatment were observed.RESULTS: The total effective rate of observation group was 93. 48%（43/46）

which was significantly higher than that of the control group（73. 91%

34/46）

with statistically significant difference（P<0. 05）. With the extension of treatment time

scores of HAMD-17 and TESS of the two groups were gradually decreasing. At 2

4 and 8 weeks after treatment

HAMD-17 scores of observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group

with statistically significant differences（P<0. 05）; at 1

2

4 and 8 weeks after treatment

there were no statistical significance in differences in TESS scores between two groups（P>0. 05）. After treatment

the proportion of Th17

ratio of Th17/Treg and serum IL-17 level in peripheral blood of both groups were significantly lower than those of before treatment

while the proportion of Treg and serum IL-10 level had been significantly increased

with statistically significant differences（P< 0. 05）;compared with the control group after treatment

the proportion of Th17

ratio of Th17/Treg and serum IL-17 level in peripheral blood of observation group were significantly decreased

while the proportion of Treg and serum IL-10 level had been significantly increased

with statistically significant differences（P< 0. 05）. CONCLUSIONS: The general efficacy of Wumei pills combined with paroxetine in the treatment of depression of liver yang-deficiency type is significant

with rapid onset

which may be associated to its effective maintenance of Th17/Treg cell balance and regulation of expression levels of serum Th17/Treg-related cytokine.