Antitussive Effect Research Articles

Subcutaneous octreotide as a therapeutic option for refractory chronic cough: subjective response pattern and adverse effects from a retrospective single-centre case series.

Therapeutic antitussive effect of octreotide on intractable cough https://bit.ly/3mVMEc6.

Tiotropium for refractory cough in asthma via cough reflex sensitivity: A randomized, parallel, open-label trial

BackgroundWe previously reported in an uncontrolled study that tiotropium alleviated chronic cough in asthma refractory to inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting β2 agonists (ICS/LABA) by modulating capsaicin cough reflex sensitivity (C-CRS). ObjectiveWe sought to determine the antitussive effects of tiotropium for refractory cough in asthma in a randomized, parallel, open-label trial. MethodsA total of 58 patients with asthma having chronic cough refractory to ICS/LABA were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to add tiotropium 5 μg (39 patients) or theophylline 400 mg (19 patients) for 4 weeks. Patients underwent workups, including capsaicin cough challenge test and subjective measures such as cough severity visual analog scales (VAS). We adopted C5, the lowest capsaicin concentration to induce at least 5 coughs, as an index of C-CRS. We also performed a posthoc analysis to identify factors predicting tiotropium responders, who found an improvement of at least 15 mm in cough severity VAS. ResultsA total of 52 patients (tiotropium, 38; theophylline, 14) completed the study. Both tiotropium and theophylline significantly improved cough severity VAS and cough-specific quality of life. Tiotropium, but not theophylline, significantly increased C5, whereas pulmonary function did not change in either group. In addition, changes in cough severity VAS correlated with changes in C5 values in the tiotropium group. A posthoc analysis revealed that heightened C-CRS (C5 ≤1.22 µM) before the addition of tiotropium was an independent predictor for tiotropium responders. ConclusionTiotropium may alleviate chronic cough in asthma refractory to ICS/LABA by modulating C-CRS. Heightened C-CRS may predict responsiveness to tiotropium for refractory cough in asthma. Trial RegistrationClinical Trials Registry ID: UMIN000021064 (https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000024253).

Influence of combined voltage-gated sodium channel NaV1.7 and NaV1.8 inhibitors on cough in a guinea pig model

Pathological excessive cough is a serious clinical problem in many patients. It is no doubt that an increased activation and sensitization of airway vagal C-fibres in disease stems from dysregulation of the neural pathways that control cough. Due to the limited efficacy and unwanted side effects of current antitussives, there is a continual demand for the development of a novel more effective antitussive. Since voltage-gated sodium channels (NaVs) are absolutely required for action potentials initiation and conduction irrespective of the stimulus, NaVs became a promising and attractive neural target. Current studies establish that NaV1.7 and NaV1.8 inhibitors have the potential to suppress cough. In this study, we demonstrated that inhaled aerosol of NaV1.7 inhibitor PF-05089771 (10 μM) and NaV1.8 inhibitor A-803467 (1 mM) mixture inhibited the capsaicin-induced cough by ≈ 60 % and citric acid-induced cough by ≈ 65 % at doses that did not modify respiratory rate. Our previous and present studies indicate that NaV1.7 and NaV1.8 may present promising therapeutic targets for antitussive therapy.

The antitussive effects of Korean red ginseng on citric acid-induced cough in Guinea pigs

The antitussive effects of Korean red ginseng on citric acid-induced cough in Guinea pigs

Efficacy, chemical composition, and pharmacological effects of herbal drugs derived from Fritillaria cirrhosa D. Don and Fritillaria thunbergii Miq.

Fritillaria cirrhosa D. Don and F. thunbergii Miq. belong to the genus Fritillaria within the Liliaceae family. They are used in traditional Chinese medicines that are often administered in clinical settings as they have notable effects on cough, bronchitis, pneumonia, lung injury, cancer, and other diseases. In this review, we focus on the history, origin, similarities, and differences in efficacy, chemical composition, and pharmacological outcomes of the drugs obtained from F. cirrhosa (FRC) and F. thunbergii (FRT). We list various valuable pharmacological effects of FRC and FRT, including antitussive, expectorant, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer effects. Thus, this review offers a basis for the medical application of and further research into the pharmacological impacts of these two drugs. We believe that new drugs derived from the phytoconstituents of F. cirrhosa and F. thunbergii that have specific therapeutic properties can be developed in the future.

The place of phytotherapy in the treatment of acute upper respiratory tract infections

Phytotherapy is based on the use of herbal medicines. Treatment with phytopreparations is characterized by efficiency, low risk of adverse events and the ability to enhance the effect of complex therapy. Herbal preparations are subject to standard requirements for quality control, safety and effectiveness. Inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract are characterized by numerous symptoms that significantly reduce the quality of life of the patient. Along with pathogenetic therapy, symptomatic treatment is used. For the treatment of respiratory diseases, phytopreparations with antipyretic, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antitussive, mucolytic, bronchodilator and other clinically proven effects are used. The most common symptom of inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract is cough. Many medicinal plants have antitussive effects. Ivy leaf extract has pronounced antitussive and mucolytic properties. The therapeutic effects of ivy are primarily due to the presence of saponins in its composition. Numerous randomized controlled trials have proven the efficacy and safety of H. Helix-based drugs in the treatment of cough in adults. A meta-analysis conducted by Barnes LA et al revealed that monopreparations and combined phytopreparations, including H. Helix, reduce the frequency and intensity of cough caused by viral respiratory infection. In a study involving 5,162 children, efficacy in the treatment of productive cough in children was proven. Currently, there are several medicines based on ivy leaves in liquid and solid forms on the pharmaceutical market of Russia. It leading position in sales of mucolytic agents of plant origin in Russia, due to its high efficiency and low frequency of adverse events.

Novel α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor modulators as potential antitussive agents

A novel series of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) modulators was designed and evaluated for antitussive activity in an in vivo guinea pig model of chemically induced cough. Compound 16 at all tested doses (9.5, 3 and 1 mg/kg) significantly (p < 0.01) reduced the cumulative number of coughs and showed similar results to a positive control (codeine at 30 mg/kg). Among three different administration routes (intraperitoneal, oral and inhalation), compound 16 exerted a significant antitussive effect in guinea pigs at an inhaled dose as low as 0.4 mg/kg (p < 0.05). α7 nAChR modulators may provide a novel, non-narcotic approach to therapy in patients with acute and chronic cough.

Comparing Fentanyl Dosages of 1 Microgram per Kilogram of Body Weight and of 1.5 Micrograms per Kilogram of Body Weight in Relation to Cough Suppression during Bronchoscopy Procedures

BACKGROUND: Anaesthesia at bronchoscopy is a unique challenge for the anaesthesiologist as both the anaesthesiologist and operator work in the same airway. It is essential that administration of sedative agents must achieve the desired depth of sedation without risking airway patency, ventilation function and cardiovascular function. About 25% of bronchoscopy patients cite cough as the most unpleasant effect of this procedure. Fentanyl is widely chosen for a sedative agent because of their analgesic, sedative, and antitussive effects, however there has been no data regarding the optimal dose of fentanyl to suppress cough in bronchoscopy procedures. METHODS: We designed a research with 18 subjects received fentanyl in a dose of 1 μg / kgBW, 18 subjects received fentanyl in a dose of 1.5 μg / kgBW and 18 subjects received propofol in a dose of 2 mg / kgBW as a control group. We observed the depth of sedation using the Ramsay sedation score and duration of cough suppression in their bronchoscopy procedures. We also observed the alteration of blood pressure, pulse rate, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the depth of patient sedation between the control group and the treatment groups; as patients without fentanyl treatment were sedated deeper on the Ramsay 4 scale, patients in the treatment groups with either fentanyl of 1 µg / kgBW or 1.5 µg / kgBW had the depth of sedation on the Ramsay 2 scale and unable to reach moderate sedation as expected. Subjects with fentanyl treatments showed significantly better suppression effects against coughing compared to control group patients. As there also was a significance difference in suppression effects for coughing between the group receiving fentanyl treatment of 1 µg / kgBW and the group receiving fentanyl treatment of 1.5 µg / kgBW, we noticed a fentanyl treatment of 1 µg / kgBW was adequate to suppress cough although a dose of 1.5 µg / kgBW would show better cough suppression effect. Subjects in control group with 2 mg / kgBW of propofol experienced a more significant alteration in vital signs than the fentanyl group, either with a dose of 1 µg / kgBW or 1.5 µg / kgBW. Comparing and statistically analysing the two treatment groups of different dose of fentanyl, we found no significant difference in vital signs alteration between the two groups. DISCUSSION: Our study revealed that as fentanyl significantly suppressed cough reflex and larger dose would provide longer period of suppression. Subjects with fentanyl treatment showed more favourable altercation in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, pulse rate, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation compared to subjects in control group with 2 mg / kgBW of propofol, but comparing and statistically analysing the two groups of different dose of fentanyl, we found no significant difference in vital signs alteration

HPLC Fingerprint Analysis of Rana chensinensis Eggs from Different Habitats and Their Antitussive Effect.

In this paper, a novel fingerprint method was established for the quality control of Rana chensinensis eggs (RE) by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Cluster analysis and principal component analysis were performed. Besides, the antitussive effect of RE was explored. The analysis was achieved on a Kromasil 100-5C18 (4.6 mm × 250 mm, 5 μm) column by gradient elution using methanol-0.1% phosphoric acid solution as the mobile phase. The influence of RE on cough latent periods and cough times of mice was investigated via an ammonia cough-inducing experiment. The validated HPLC method was precise, reproducible, and stable. The HPLC fingerprints of 10 batches of RE samples displayed 31 well-resolved common peaks in the chromatogram. Three of these peaks were identified and assigned to 1-methyl hydantoin, estradiol, and 4-cholestene-3-one. The similarities of 10 batches of samples were more than 0.95. RE from different origins could be classified into three groups via SPSS 23.0 software, suggesting RE samples from various provinces (Jilin, Liaoning, and Heilongjiang) can be well distinguished via the established method. High dose and middle dose of the RE group can significantly prolong the cough latent periods of mice (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) and inhibit the cough times of mice (P < 0.01), indicating RE had a good antitussive effect. HPLC fingerprint combined with multicomponent determination can be an efficient and useful method for monitoring the quality of RE. This study also provided a more comprehensive strategy for the quality evaluation of RE.

The safety and efficacy of alfentanil combined with midazolam in fiberoptic bronchoscopy sedation: A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.

Sedation is recommended by most guidelines to be offered to all patients undergoing diagnostic flexible bronchoscopy (DFB) without contraindications, and the most commonly reported regimen is midazolam in combination with a short-acting opioid (fentanyl or alfentanil) to provide both sedative and antitussive effects. However, the optimal dose or ideal regimen of the combination therapy with midazolam and opioids has not yet been found. So this randomized, double-blinded clinical trial was designed and registered (ChiCTR2100049052) to assess the safety and efficacy of midazolam combined with different doses of alfentanil in DFB sedation. Our study showed that relative high doses of alfentanil (10-25μg/kg) combined with a fixed low dose of midazolam can markedly reduce hemodynamic fluctuations, cough reactions, patients' discomforts, and improve their satisfaction in a dose-dependent manner during DFB, with no significant increase in the desaturation risks.

Antitussive, Expectorant, and Anti-inflammatory Effects of Mahwangyounpae-tang, a Polyherbal Formula in ICR Mice

Objectives: The antitussive, expectorant, and anti-inflammatory effects of Mahwangyounpae-tang (MHYPT) aqueous extracts were observed in appropriate animal models of various respiratory disorders.Methods: MHYPT aqueous extracts were orally administered once a day for 11 days at dose levels of 400, 200, and 100 mg/kg. The effect of MHYPT was determined by comparing its antitussive effect with theobromine (TB), its expectorant effect with ambroxol (AM), and its anti-inflammatory effect with dexamethasone (DEXA).Results: MHYPT aqueous extracts (400 mg/kg) showed favorable antitussive effects comparable to those of TB (50 mg/kg) in the NH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;OH-exposure coughing mouse model and expectorant effects comparable to those of AM (250 mg/kg) in the phenol red-secretion mouse model, but MHYPT (400 mg/kg) showed less anti-inflammatory activity compared to DEXA (1 mg/kg) in the xylene-induced acute inflammatory mouse ear model under the experimental conditions used.Conclusion: MHYPT aqueous extracts administered at dosage levels of 400, 200, and 100 mg/kg induced dose-dependent and favorable antitussive, expectorant, and anti-inflammatory activities that occurred by simultaneous modulation of the activity of mast cells and respiratory mucous production under the experimental conditions used in this study.

Constituents, nutritional and pharmacological importance of Prunus persica - A review

Prunus persica (Family:Rosaceae) contained carbohydrates,fiber, carotenoids,alkaloids,oils, polyphenols, flavonoids and minerals. Previouspharmacological studiesrevealed thatPrunus persica possessed gastrointestinal, anti-inflammatory, analgesic,antipyretic, cytotoxic, antioxidant,antiprasitic, acetylcholine esterase inhibition, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antihistaminic, immunological, protective, vascular, dermatological, antitussive and many other effects. The current review was designedto highlight the chemical and nutritional constituents, pharmacological and therapeutic effects of Prunus persica.

Application of network composite module analysis and verification to explore the bidirectional immunomodulatory effect of Zukamu granules on Th1 / Th2 cytokines in lung injury

Ethnopharmacological relevanceZukamu granules (ZKMG), as the preferred drug for the treatment of colds in Uygur medical theory, has been used for 1500 years. It is also widely used in China and included in the National Essential Drugs List (2018 edition). It has unique anti-inflammatory, antitussive and analgesic effects. Aim of the studyAiming at the research of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with the characteristics of overall regulation of body diseases and the immune regulation mechanism with the concept of integrity, this paper put forward the integrated application of network composite module analysis and animal experiment verification to study the immune regulation mechanism of TCM. Materials and methodsThe active components and targets of ZKMG were predicted, and network module analysis was performed to explore their potential immunomodulatory mechanisms. Then acute lung injury (ALI) mice and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) rats were used as pathological models to observe the effects of ZKMG on the pathological conditions of infected ALI and IPF rats, determine the contents of Th1, Th2 characteristic cytokines and immunoglobulins, and study the intervention of GATA3/STAT6 signal pathway. ResultsThe results of network composite module analysis showed that ZKMG contained 173 pharmacodynamic components and 249 potential targets, and four key modules were obtained. The immunomodulatory effects of ZKMG were related to T cell receptor signaling pathway. The validation results of bioeffects that ZKMG could carry out bidirectional immune regulation on Th1/Th2 cytokines in the stage of ALI and IPF, so as to play the role of regulating immune homeostasis and organ protection. ConclusionsThe network composite module analysis and verification method is an exploration to study the immune regulation mechanism of TCM by combining the network module prediction analysis with animal experiments, which provides a reference for subsequent research.

Effects of Angelicae Sinensis Radix on cAMP/Epac signaling pathway in the treatment of chronically infected cough mice with Yin deficiency syndrome

To investigate the effects of Angelicae Sinensis Radix (ASR) on cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) /exchange protein activated by cAMP (Epac) signaling pathway in the treatment of chronically infected cough mice with Yin deficiency syndrome. Mice were randomly divided into blank control group, model control group, positive control group and ASR group (n=8). The chronic cough mouse model of hyperreactive and infected airway with Yin deficiency syndrome was established with fumigation (once a day, 30 days in total), lipopolysaccharide nasal drip (every 3 days 10 μl, 10 times in total), intragastric administration of thyroid gland (120 mg/kg, once a day, a total of 15 days) and inhalation of ammonia (3 min / time × 10 times). On the basis of observing eating and drinking water, body weight and autonomic activities, the effects of ASR on metabolic level, autonomous activities, antitussive effect, cell factor in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) brain tissue 5-HT and lung tissue related active factors(SP, PGP9.5, cAMP, Epac1) were detected. ASR could significantly restrain cough, alleviate the pathological changes of bronchioles, reduce the contents of IL-4, IL-13, TNF-α in BALF and the levels of SP, PGP9.5, cAMP and Epac1 in lung tissues, increase the content of 5-HT in brain tissue (P＜0.05, 0.01). ASR has some effects on restraining cough and one of its mechanisms is to down-regulate cAMP/Epac signaling pathway, to alleviate airway neurogenic inflammation and reduce sensitivity of cough neural pathway.

The phytochemical constituents and protective effect of Fritillaria hupehensis on acute lung injury

Acute lung injury (ALI), a severe respiratory disorder, frequently develops into acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) without timely treatment and scores highly in terms of morbidity and mortality rates. Fritillaria hupehensis is a famous traditional Chinese medicine with antitussive, expectorant and anti-asthmatic effect. Here, the effects of F. hupehensis extracts on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI mice were evaluated for the first time. We showed ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) significantly reduced the leukocytes and neutrophils of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and the lung index as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) of lung homogenates but increasing the anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10). Additionally, the alleviation of EAF treatment on lung injury was verified through histopathological observations. Subsequent phytochemical investigation on bioactive fraction led to isolation of 17 compounds including two new, in which compounds 2, 5 and 6 exhibited better anti-inflammatory effect on LPS-induced 16 human airway epithelial (16HBE) cells model by inhibiting the production of CRP and PCT. Furthermore, compound 2 suppressed the LPS-induced upregulation of proteins containing p-p65, COX-2, Caspase-1 and IL-18. In summary, F. hupehensis alleviating LPS-induced ALI in mice may be associated with the anti-inflammatory activity of steroidal alkaloids by suppressing the NF-κB-regulated pro-inflammatory proteins.

Aromatic ointments for the common cold: what does the science say?

BackgroundUpper respiratory tract infections occur with an annual incidence of 17.2 billion cases globally. The negative impact that symptoms have on sleep is thought to slow the recovery process. Plant-derived aromatics have been used since ancient times to treat respiratory illnesses. In this narrative review, we summarize the use of aromatics for the symptomatic relief of upper respiratory tract infections and how this affects sleep quality.MethodsLiterature searches were conducted using a series of search terms and results were screened for relevance. Additional references were included according to the expert knowledge of the authors.DiscussionMultiple studies have observed that essential oil mixtures of aromatics enhance symptom relief for upper respiratory tract infections and their inhalation has been reported to have antitussive effects. Clinical trials assessing the efficacy of an ointment containing menthol, eucalyptus and camphor found patients to experience faster nasal cooling and decongestion times. Treatment with the same ointment also resulted in significant improvements in reported sleep quality. Aromatic treatment did not improve objective nasal airway measures in any of the studies.ConclusionWhilst not affecting objective measures of nasal airway resistance, the use of aromatics leads to improvements in a number of subjective sensations associated with the common cold. Such benefits result in better sleep, which likely aids recovery. Therefore, aromatics remain a well tolerated and effective option for the symptomatic relief of upper respiratory tract infections.

Research on function of Feilike Mixture in stopping cough, eliminating phlegm and relieving asthma based on animal experiments and network pharmacology

This study observed the pharmacological effects of Feilike Mixture(FLKM) in stopping cough, eliminating phlegm, and relieving asthma through animal experiments, and explored its mechanism using network pharmacology. The antitussive effect was detected by citric acid-induced guinea pig cough model, the expectorant effect by mouse phenol red excretion experiment and lipopolysaccharide-induced mucus hypersecretion rat model, and the antiasthmatic effect by histamine phosphate-induced guinea pig asthma model. The chemical components of FLKM were collected by TCMSP, TCMID, TCMIP, and BATMAN-TCM databases and literature search, and the potential active components were screened through ADMETlab 2.0. The targets of FLKM were obtained by STITCH, SwissTargetPrediction, and TCMSP, and the symptom targets of cough, phlegm, and asthma were acquired through SymMap database. After taking the intersection of FLKM targets and symptom targets, this study used the OECloud tool to perform Gene Ontology(GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) enrichment analysis. RESULTS:: demonstrated that FLKM 0.43-1.74 g·kg~(-1) reduced the number of coughs in guinea pigs within 3 min(P&lt;0.05, P&lt;0.01), and FLKM 6-12 g·kg~(-1) increased the tracheal phenol red excretion in mice(P&lt;0.01). Moreover, FLKM 2-8 g·kg~(-1) inhibited the number of goblet cells(P&lt;0.05, P&lt;0.01), and FLKM 7-11.2 g·kg~(-1) prolonged the incubation period of asthma(P&lt;0.05). A total of 115 potential active components and 910 targets of FLKM were obtained through network pharmacological analysis. FLKM had 27, 12, and 7 targets for stopping cough, eliminating phlegm, and relieving asthma, respectively. The GO and KEGG enrichment analysis found that there were commonalities and characteristics, among which cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and infectious disease-related signaling pathway were shared. FLKM has a good effect of stopping cough, eliminating phlegm, and relieving asthma through animal experiments and network pharmacology.

Optimization of Naringenin Nanoparticles to Improve the Antitussive Effects on Post-Infectious Cough.

Naringenin (NRG) is a natural compound with several biological activities; however, its bioavailability is limited owing to poor aqueous solubility. In this study, NRG nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared using the wet media milling method. To obtain NRG NPs with a small particle size and high drug-loading content, the preparation conditions, including stirring time, temperature, stirring speed, and milling media amount, were optimized. The NRG (30 mg) and D-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol succinate (10 mg) were wet-milled in deionized water (2 mL) with 10 g of zirconia beads via stirring at 50 °C for 2 h at a stirring speed of 300 rpm. As a result, the NRG NPs, with sheet-like morphology and a diameter of approximately 182.2 nm, were successfully prepared. The NRG NPs were stable in the gastrointestinal system and were released effectively after entering the blood circulation. In vivo experiments indicated that the NRG NPs have good antitussive effects. The cough inhibition rate after the administration of the NRG NPs was 66.7%, cough frequency was three times lower, and the potential period was 1.8 times longer than that in the blank model group. In addition, the enzyme biomarkers and histological analysis results revealed that the NRG NPs can effectively regulate the inflammatory and oxidative stress response. In conclusion, the NRG NPs exhibited good oral bioavailability and promoted antitussive and anti-inflammatory effects.

Shema Oral Liquid Ameliorates the Severity of LPS-Induced COPD via Regulating DNMT1.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the most common respiratory disease with high morbidity and mortality. Shema oral liquid (Shema) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) approved for the treatment of respiratory diseases. Clinical applications have shown that Shema has antitussive, expectorant, and anti-asthmatic effects, but its definite efficacy to COPD is still unclear. This study aimed to explore the therapeutic capacity and potential mechanism of Shema in treatment of COPD. Methods: Network pharmacology was used to investigated the possible pharmacological mechanism of Shema against COPD. A rat model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced COPD was established to determine pulmonary ventilatory function, serum inflammatory cytokines, and pulmonary pathological change. Subsequently, tandem mass tag (TMT)-based quantitative proteomics was used to further reveal the therapeutic targets related with Shema against COPD. Western blot was finally performed to validate the expression of targeted proteins screened by proteomics research. Results: Network pharmacology analysis indicated that Shema against COPD mainly inhibited the inflammation and affected the immune system. The animal experiment demonstrated that Shema treatment protected the lung tissue from LPS induced injury, inhibited the levels of serum inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and improved the respiratory ventilatory function by upregulating forced expiratory volume in 0.1 s (FEV0.1), FEV0.3, forced vital capacity (FVC), and the ratios of FEV0.1 (0.3)/FVC. Proteomic analysis and western blot both proved that Shema inhibited the expression of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) in the lung tissue. Conclusion: The therapeutic mechanism of Shema in treatment of COPD may involve inhibiting inflammatory response, improving pulmonary ventilatory function, and alleviating LPS-induced lung injury through regulating the expression of DNMT1. This study also shed light on the development of therapeutic strategies in treating COPD by intervening DNMT-related pathways.

Analysis of inter-individual variability of antitussive effect of Farfarae Flos and its fecal metabolites based on gut microbiota

In this study, the inter-individual variability of antitussive effect of Farfarae Flos was observed, and then the Farfarae Flos treated mice were divided into the mice with good or poor antitussive effect. Then a UHPLC-Q TOF-MS method was developed and validated to quantify 13 fecal metabolites of Farfarae Flos, and the results showed concentrated differences between the two subgroups. The results of 16 S rRNA gene sequencing analysis showed that mice with good or poor antitussive effects were also different at the structure of gut microbiota in phylum and genus, as well as the related 6 pathways. In addition, the differential fecal metabolites of Farfarae Flos between the two subgroups were probably related with 5 bacterial that participating in the CQAs and flavonoids metabolism. This study explained the inter-individual variability of the antitussive effect of Farfarae Flos from the perspective of gut microbiota. However, the specific bacterial that participate in the metabolism of Farfarae Flos as well as the antitussive effects of Farfarae Flos need to be further validated.