Effects of Ephedra-Cinnamomum couplet medicinals on respiratory function and airway inflammation in rats with asthma of cold-fluid retention in lung syndrome and its mechanism
- VernacularTitle:麻黄-桂枝药对对哮喘寒饮蕴肺证大鼠呼吸功能和气道炎症的影响及机制研究
- Author:
Mingzhe ZHAO
1
;
Bin WANG
1
;
Xiaomin ZHAO
2
;
Yuyang SUN
1
;
Peizheng YAN
3
Author Information
1. School of Pharmacy，Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine，Jinan 250355，China
2. Dept. of Traditional Chinese Medicine，Shandong College of Traditional Chinese Medicine，Shandong Yantai 265200，China
3. Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine Literature and Culture，Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine，Jinan 250355，China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Ephedra-Cinnamomum couplet medicinals;
bronchial asthma;
cold-fluid retention in lung syndrome;
thymic
- From:
China Pharmacy
2025;36(14):1717-1721
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of Ephedra-Cinnamomum couplet medicinals on respiratory function and airway inflammation in rats with asthma of cold-fluid retention in lung syndrome and its mechanism. METHODS Sixty Wistar rats were randomly divided into blank group， model group， dexamethasone group [1 mg/（kg·d）]， and Ephedra-Cinnamomum low-， medium-， high-dose groups [0.234， 0.936， 1.872 g/（kg·d）]， with 10 rats in each group. The model and treatment groups were sensitized by intraperitoneal injection of antigen solution （ovalbumin 100 mg + aluminum hydroxide 100 mg） and challenged with 1% ovalbumin nebulization， along with exposure to a cold environment and ingestion of cold water， to establish the asthma model with cold-fluid retention in lung syndrome. From day 2， rats received corresponding drugs or normal saline intragastrically， once a day， for 21 consecutive days. The general behavioral changes in each group of rats were observed during the experimental process. The lung function parameters [peak expiratory flow （PEF）， airway resistance （Raw）， functional residual capacity （FRC）， expiratory flow at 50% of forced vital capacity （EF50%）] Δ 基金项目 国家自然科学基金青年科学基金项目（No.82004233）； were measured before modeling and after the last medication as well as serum contents of interleukin-6 （IL-6）， IL-13， tumor necrosis factor- α （TNF- α） and interferon-gamma （IFN- γ） after the last medication were determined； the histopathological morphological changes in the lung tissues of rats were also observed； mRNA expressions of IL-6， IL-3， TNF-α， IFN-γ， thymic stromal lymphopoietin （TSLP）， and Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4）， as well as protein expressions of TSLP and TLR4 were determined in lung tissue. RESULTS Compared with model group， the lung tissue damage of rats was relieved significantly； Raw， FRC， the contents and mRNA expression levels of IL-6， IL-13 and TNF-α， as well as the mRNA and protein expressions of TSLP and TLR4 were significantly decreased （P＜0.05）， while the contents and mRNA expressions of PEF， EF50 % and IFN-γ were significantly increased in the dexamethasone group and Ephedra-Cinnamomum medium- and high-dose groups （P＜0.05）. Moreover， only a few rats in the two groups exhibited typical symptoms of asthma. CONCLUSIONS Ephedra-Cinnamomum couplet medicinals improve respiratory function and ameliorate airway inflammation in asthma rats with cold-fluid retention in lung syndrome， the mechanism of which may be associated with inhibiting TSLP/TLR4 signaling pathway and modulating Th1/Th2 imbalance.
