Effects on herba epimedii and radix Astragali on tumor necrosis factor-alpha and nuclear factor-kappa B in asthmatic rats / 中国中西医结合杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of Herba Epimedii and Radix Astragali, the two Chinese herbs for replenishing Shen and strengthening qi, on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha, one of the pro-inflammatory factors) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) in asthmatic rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rats were randomly divided into five groups the normal saline control group, the asthma model group and the three treated groups treated with high, medium and low dose of the Chinese herbs. Serum TNF-alpha and NF-kappa B activity in pulmonary tissue were detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunohistochemistry respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Herba Epimedii and Radix Astragali could effectively reduce the production of TNF-alpha and inhibit NF-kappa B activity, and the efficacies in the three treated group were similar, showing insignificant difference among them.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Application of Herba Epimedii and Radix Astragali in the attack or remission stage of asthma could restrain the development of inflammation by reducing the production of TNF-alpha and inhibiting NF-kappa B activity.</p>