Antiasthmatic effects of different tonifying kidney-Yin formulas and their effects on airway remodeling in chronic asthma / 中国中药杂志

ABSTRACT

Both of Zuogui Wan(ZGW) and Liuwei Dihuang Wan(LWDHW) contain ingredients of Sanbufang(SBF), which have been proven to have antiasthmatic effects. In order to study the antiasthmatic effects of the three tonifying kidney-Yin formulas and their mechanisms, BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 5 groups. Chronic asthma was induced by ovalbumin. Mice in treated groups were respectively given 49.0 g•kg⁻¹ZGW, 35.0 g•kg⁻¹LWDHW and 22.4 g•kg⁻¹SBF by gavage. Those in normal and model group were given normal saline. After treatment, sneeze and nose scratching times of mice were observed. Histological lung sections were prepared to determine the basement membrane thickness(BMT), smooth muscle thickness(SMT), collagen area(CA) and numbers of goblet cells(GCN). Western blotting and RT-PCR were used to determine the expression levels of MMP-9, TGF-β1, Smad2, Smad3 and Smad7. The results showed that sneeze and nose scratching times of ZGW group were significantly lower than those of SBF group. Its inhibition degree on airway remodeling was significantly higher than SBF group. Sneeze and nose scratching times of LWDHW group were significantly lower than SBF group. Its CA and GCN were significantly lower than SBF group. Regarding the four airway remodeling related factors, MMP-9, TGF-β1, Smad2 and Smad3 of ZGW group were significantly lower than those of SBF group, and its Smad7 was significantly higher than SBF. Smad7 of LWDHW group was significantly higher than SBF. There was no significant difference in MMP-9 between model group and SBF group. The results indicate that there are significant differences in the antiasthma effect of these tonifying kidney-Yin formulas. The regulatory effects of ZGW and LWDHW on MMP-9 and Smad7 may be correlated with the differences in the inhibitory effect of airway remodeling of the three formulas.