Comparison of three herbal proparations in airway remodeling in rats with chronic asthmatic / 中成药

ABSTRACT

AIM To research the antiasthmatic effects of Zuogui Pills,Yougui Pills and Yupingfeng Powder and their mechanism of action.METHODS Male Brown Norway rats were randomly divided into five groups.OVA was used to induce the model of chronic asthma.Five groups of asthmatic rats were given Zuogui Pills,Yougui Pills,Yupingfeng Powder by gavage once daily for 14 d,respectively.The normal and the model group were given normal saline.Penh value,serum Thl,Th2 inflammatory cytokines,and CROT and ACTH protein levels were determined.Pathological changes of airway remodeling were measured.RT-PCR method was used to measure the expression of CRH mRNA in hypothalamus,and TGF-β1 and Smad3 mRNA in lung tissues.RESULTS Penh values of Yupingfeng Powder group and Yougui Pills group were significantly lower than that of Zuogui Pills group.The Thl inflammatory cytokine of Yupingfeng Powder group was significantly higher than that of Zuogui Pills group,while the Th2 cytokine was significantly lower than that of Zuogui Pills group.In Yougui Pills group,only IL-5 was significantly lower than that of Zuogui Pills group.Serum CROT,ACTH protein and CRH mRNA of Yupingfeng Powder group were significantly higher than those in Zuogui Pills group.No significant difference was found between Yupingfeng Powder group and Zuogui Pills group with regard to TGF-β1 and Smad3 mRNA.Smad3 mRNA of Yougui Pills group was significantly higher than that of the model group.Airway remodeling was significantly reduced by Yupingfeng Powder and Zuogui Pills.The number of goblet cells in Yougui Pills group was significantly lower than that in Zuogui Pills group.CONCLUSION All the three formulaes possess significant antiasthma effects.Regulation effects of Yupingfeng Powder on Thl/Th2 balance,HPA and TGF-β1/Smad3 pathway are strong.Compared with Zuogui Pills,Yougui Pills possesses weaker TGF-β1/Smad3 regulative effects and stronger HPA regulative effects.