Abstract
BackgroundMany formulae of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) have been used for antiasthma treatment dating back many centuries. There is evidence to suggest that TCMs are effective as a cure for this allergenic disease administered via gastric tubes in animal studies; however, their efficacy, safety and side effects as an asthmatic therapy are still unclear.MethodsIn this study, guinea pigs sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA) were used as an animal model for asthma challenge, and the sensitization of animals by bronchial reactivity to methacholine (Mch) and the IgE concentration in the serum after OVA challenge were estimated. Complex traditional Chinese herbs (CTCM) were administered to the animals by nebulization, and the leukocytes were evaluated from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF).ResultsThe results showed that inhalation of CTCM could abolish the increased lung resistance (13-fold increase) induced by challenge with OVA in the early asthmatic response (EAR), reducing to as low as baseline (1-fold). Moreover, our results indicated higher IgE levels (range, 78-83 ng/ml) in the serum of sensitized guinea pigs than in the unsensitized controls (0.9 ± 0.256 ng/ml). In addition, increased total leukocytes and higher levels of eosinophils and neutrophils were seen 6 hours after challenge, and the increased inflammatory cells were reduced by treatment with CTCM inhalation. The interleukin-5 (IL-5) level in BALF was also reduced by CTCM.ConclusionOur findings indicate a novel method of administering traditional Chinese medicines for asthma treatment in an animal model that may be more effective than traditional methods.
Highlights
Many formulae of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) have been used for antiasthma treatment dating back many centuries
The results showed that the Chinese medicine attenuated the increased respiratory resistance and the amount of eosinophilia induced by the allergens [8,14,15,16]; the mechanisms are unclear
As compared with the immunized group (SGP), our results showed that complex traditional Chinese medicines (CTCM) treatment significantly reduced the increase in eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF)
Summary
Many formulae of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) have been used for antiasthma treatment dating back many centuries. There is evidence to suggest that TCMs are effective as a cure for this allergenic disease administered via gastric tubes in animal studies; their efficacy, safety and side effects as an asthmatic therapy are still unclear. Bronchial asthma is a complex syndrome with many clinical symptoms. It is characterized by variable airflow obstruction, airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammation [1,2]. According to analyses of bronchial biopsies and lavage samples removed from allergen-exposed inflammatory cells, eosinophils, can be observed in induced sputum [4,6]. A number of small animal models such as mice, rats and guinea pigs have been developed for asthma study, in which the LAR occurs in the airway of sensitized animals after exposure to antigens. The guinea pig is generally the preferred model because the responses to a variety of contractile and relaxant substances are similar to those of humans [8,9]
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