Adjustment effects of Herba Epimedii, Fructus Ligustrilucidion NO/ET, HPA axis in asthmatic rats

Abstract

To study the neuro-endocrine adjustment effects of Herba Epimedii and Fructus Ligustrilucidi on the asthmatic rats. Rat asthma model was duplicated by OVA (ovalbumin) through sensitizing and challenging. Fifty male rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, adjustment group of Herba Epimedii and Fructus Ligustrilucidi, Peibenfang group and Asimei capsule group. Investigating levels of ET (Endothelin), NO, iNOS (inducible NOS ), and cNOS (constitutive NOS) in blood serum and BALF (bronchoalveolar lavage fluid ), CORT (corticotrophin) in serum, ACTH (adrenocorticotropin hormone) in plasma, CHR (corticotropin release hormone) in hypothalamus, protein expression of GCR (glucocorticoid receptor) in lung tissue. The adjustment of Herba Epimedii and Fructus Ligustrilucidi could inhibit ET and NO content in BALF (all P < 0.05), decrease the level of iNOS in serum and BALF (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), and increase the level of cNOS in serum and BALF (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), raise the concentration of serum CORT (P < 0.01), enhance the protein expression of GCR in lung tissue (P < 0.05). The preventive and therapeutic effect of Herba Epimedii and Fructus Ligustrilucidi on asthma relates to their adjustment effect on ET/NO and HPA axis.