ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of total flavonoids from Nigella glandulifera (TFNG) on inflammation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) model rats and its mechanisms. METHODS: The COPD model rats was established by intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccha rides (LPS) with inhalation of papain. The model rats were administrated low and high dosage TFNG, water decoction and aminophylline by ig for twenty consecutive days, the model and normal group with distilled water. The general situation of rats were observed and the rats lung tissue were obtained and stained with HE for histopathological examination, inflammatory cells in bronchuoalveolus lavage fluid (BALF) were classified, the levels of inflammatory factors in BALF were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: TFNG (71.5, 286 mg ·kg-1) could improve the general condition of COPD rats, and the pathologic changes of lung tissue were reduced in different degree; the macrophage and neutrophil cells percentage in BALF, and levels of IL-8, TNF-α and NF-κB in BALF were significantly decreased (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: TFNG can inhibit the inflammation of COPD model rats. The potential mechanism may be related to reducing the reaction of inflammatory cells to LPS, and inhibiting the synthesis and release of inflammatory cytokines.