Effect of Eucalyptus globulus oil on lipopolysaccharide-induced chronic bronchitis and mucin hypersecretion in rats / 中国中药杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of Eucalyptus globulus oil on bronchiolitis and mucin hypersecretion in chronic bronchitis induced by lipopolysaccharide in rats.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Rat model was established by intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide 0.2 mg. Pathological changes, alteration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and immunohistochemistry characters were examined after 3 weeks and the effect of E. globulus oil was observed.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Characters of pathological manifestations of chronic bronchitis were found after instillation of LPS. Inflammatory cell infiltration and bronchiolitis severity were significantly reduced after administration of E. globulus oil. Especially in 300 mg x kg(-1) treated rats, there were significant decreases of mucin content in BALF and MUC5ac expression in trachea and bronchiole epithelium. Optical density and mucins area% detected by image analysis system were apparently lower than those in model group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>E. globulus oil has the anti-inflammatory effect on chronic bronchitis induced by lipopolysaccharide in rats and the inhibitio effect on hypersecretion of airway mucins.</p>