Therapeutic Effect and Antioxidant Mechanism of Xiaochuanning Granule on Psychological Stress Related Asthma in Rats / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo observe the therapeutic effect and antioxidant mechanism of Xiaochuanning granule on psychological stress-related asthma in rats. MethodThe 6-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into the normal group， asthma group， stress group， stress-related asthma group， western medicine group （atomization of budesonide suspension） and traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） group （Xiaochuanning granule 2.48 g·kg-1）. The asthma model was established during 28 days by intraperitoneal injection of 10% ovalbumin（OVA）on the 1st and 8th days and inhaling of vapourized 1% OVA started at the 15th day. Stress group， stress-related asthma group， western medicine group and TCM group were given restraint stimulation during the 28 days to establish the psychological stress-related asthma model. Rats in each group were administered with corresponding drug for 14 days from the 15th day. The sucrose preference test and open field test were performed at the 15th and 28th days. At the end of experiment， the body weight， serum interleukin-4 （IL-4）， interleukin-5 （IL-5） and interleukin-13 （IL-13） levels， as well as the levels of malondialdehyde （MDA）， superoxide dismutase （SOD） and glutathione （GSH） in lung tissues were detected by assay kits. Hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining was conducted to observe the pathological changes in lung tissues. Meanwhile， Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 （Nrf2） and hemeoxygenase-1 （HO-1） in lung tissues. ResultCompared with the stress-related asthma group， the body weight， sugar water consumption rate and open field distance in the TCM group were significantly increased （P<0.05）， and the serum IL-4， IL-5， IL-13 levels were significantly decreased （P<0.05）， the levels of SOD and GSH in lung tissues increased significantly （P<0.05）， while the level of MDA decreased significantly （P<0.05）. HE staining showed that the bronchial mucosal injury， inflammatory cell infiltration， gland hyperplasia， epithelial degeneration and necrosis were significantly ameliorated in the TCM group than in the stress-related asthma group. The expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 protein in lung tissues also increased significantly （P<0.05）. ConclusionXiaochuanning Granule can regulate the psychological stress state of stress-related asthmatic rats， alleviate airway inflammatory reaction， and suppress oxidation， which is related to its up-regulation of the Nrf2/HO-1 protein expression.

Hydro-Ethanolic Extract of Portulaca Oleracea Ameliorates Total and Differential WBC, Lung Pathology and Oxidative Biomarkers in Asthmatic Rats.

The effects of Portulaca oleracea (P. oleracea; PO) on total and differential WBC count, and oxidant/antioxidant biomarkers in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) as well as on lung pathology in asthmatic rats were examined. Rats were randomly divided into; control group (C), asthma group, asthma groups treated with either P. oleracea (rats that received PO 1, 2 and 4 mg/mL) or dexamethasone 1.25 µg/mL (D), (n = 8 in each group). Total and differential white blood cells (WBC) count, nitrite (NO2), nitrate (NO3), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and thiol levels in rats BALF were evaluated and lung pathological features were studied. Total WBC count, eosinophil, neutrophil and monocyte percentages, levels of NO2, NO3, MDA in the BALF and most pathological scores in the lung were increased but lymphocyte percentage, SOD, CAT and thiol levels were decreased in the BALF of asthmatic animals (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). Treatment with P. oleracea significantly reduced total WBC, neutrophil, eosinophil, monocyte, NO2, and NO3, MDA, interstitial fibrosis, emphysema, interstitial inflammation and epithelial damage, but increased lymphocyte, SOD, CAT and thiol levels compared to asthma group (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). Dexamethasone-treated rats also showed significant improvements in most parameters compared to asthma group (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). Our results demonstrated the ameliorative effects of P. oleracea on total and differential WBC count and oxidant-antioxidant biomarkers levels in BALF as well as lung pathological features in asthmatic rats, which propose the usage of this extract as a preventive anti-inflammatory treatment against asthma.

Rosmarinic acid affects immunological and inflammatory mediator levels and restores lung pathological features in asthmatic rats.

BACKGROUND: The effects of rosmarinic acid (RA) on immunological and inflammatory mediator levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) as well as lung pathological changes in asthmatic rats were investigated. METHODS: The levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio, IgE, PLA2, and total protein (TP) in BALF and pathological changes in the lung were evaluated in control group (C), asthma group (sensitized to ovalbumin) (A), asthma groups treated with RA and dexamethasone. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, asthmatic rats showed increased levels of IL-4, IgE, PLA2, and TP as well as all pathological scores with decreased levels of IFN-γ and IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio (P<0.05 to P<0.001). The levels of IL-4, IgE, PLA2, and TP significantly reduced in groups treated with all concentrations of RA compared to asthma group (P<0.001 for all cases). IFN-γ was significantly decreased in groups treated with two lower concentrations of RA but IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio was increased in groups treated with two higher concentrations of RA compared to asthma group (P<0.05 to P<0.001). Treatment with all doses of RA led to significant improvement in pathological scores in asthmatic animals (P<0.05 to P<0.001). Most measured parameters were also significantly improved in dexamethasone-treated animals (P<0.01 to P<0.001) but IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio and the scores of interstitial fibrosis, bleeding and epithelial damage did not change in this group. CONCLUSION: The results indicated a preventive effect for RA on immunological and inflammatory mediators as well as lung pathological changes in asthmatic rats which were comparable or even more potent than that of dexamethasone.

The infiltration and apoptosis of eosinophilicand the influence of Fas and Bcl-2 expression after belamcanda and ephedra decoction on asthma rats / 中国生化药物杂志

Objective To explore the infiltration and apoptosis of eosinophilia(EOS)and the influence of death receptor(Fas) and B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) expression after Belamcanda and Ephedra Decoction on asthma rats.Methods40 healthy rats of Holland were selected as the research subjects,they were divided into four groups: control group,asthma model group, dexamethasone group,Belamcanda and Ephedra Decoction group with 10 rats in each group.Rat asthma model was prepared by repeated stimulation of egg protein,the symptoms of asthma in each group were evaluated;the number of EOS infiltration in lung tissue was detected by staining method;EOS apoptosis was detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT) method;Blot Western was used to detect the expression of Fas and Bcl-2 protein;the flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis of EOS in rat.ResultsCompared with the rats in the model group, dexamethasone group, Belamcanda and Ephedra Decoction group rats asthma symptoms were significantly reduced, scores were significantly lower (P< 0.05),there was no significant difference between Dexamethasone group and sheganmahuang Decoction group.In the asthma model group,the number of EOS infiltration and EOS% in venous blood and lung tissue were significantly higher than those in control group,EOS apoptosis rate was significantly lower than that of the control group (P< 0.05).In Dexamethasone group,Belamcanda and Ephedra Decoction group infiltration number of EOS and EOS% were significantly lower than that of model group but higher than the control group, the apoptosis rate of EOS protein was significantly higher than the model group and the control group (P< 0.05),there was no significant difference between Dexamethasone group and sheganmahuang Decoction group.The expression of Fas in dexamethasone group,Belamcanda and Ephedra Decoction group was significantly higher than the control group and model group (P< 0.05),Bcl-2 protein was significantly lower than the control group and model group (P< 0.05),there was no significant difference between Dexamethasone group and sheganmahuang Decoction group.Cell flow cytometry showed that the control group had no cell apoptosis,a large number of apoptotic cells were appeared after Belamcanda and Ephedra Decoction treat with.ConclusionBelamcanda and Ephedra decoction can induce apoptosis of EOS expression,it may be associated with the upregulation of Fas, downregulation of Bcl-2 expression.