Effects of Xingbi gel on leukotriene E4 and immunoglobulin E production and nasal eosinophilia in a guinea pig model for allergic rhinitis.

BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the nasal airways.Many therapies do not have immediate effects,even which have side-effects.However,the effects of Xingbi gel for the treatment of AR was investigated. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effects of Xingbi gel on serum levels of leukotriene E4 (LTE4) and immunoglobulin E (IgE), as well as eosinophil counts in the nasal mucosa using a guinea pig model of allergic rhinitis (AR). METHODS: In addition to a healthy control group without AR, guinea pigs with AR were randomly divided into untreated AR control group, low-dose Xingbi gel (0.2483 g/mL) group, high-dose Xingbi gel (0.4966 g/mL) group, and budesonide group. RESULTS: Compared to the healthy controls, untreated AR guinea pigs had significantly higher ethology scores, serum LTE4 and IgE levels, and nasal mucosa eosinophil counts (p <0.01). Treatments with low-dose Xingbi gel, high-dose Xingbi gel, and budesonide significantly reduced the ethology scores, serum LTE4 and IgE levels, and nasal mucosa eosinophil counts as compared to untreated AR model guinea pigs (p <0.01). CONCLUSION: Xingbi gel alleviates AR in part through inhibiting LTE4 and IgE production and reducing eosinophilia in the nasal mucosa.