[Effects on herba epimedii and radix Astragali on tumor necrosis factor-alpha and nuclear factor-kappa B in asthmatic rats].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effects of Herba Epimedii and Radix Astragali, the two Chinese herbs for replenishing Shen and strengthening qi, on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha, one of the pro-inflammatory factors) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) in asthmatic rats.


METHODS
Rats were randomly divided into five groups: the normal saline control group, the asthma model group and the three treated groups treated with high, medium and low dose of the Chinese herbs. Serum TNF-alpha and NF-kappa B activity in pulmonary tissue were detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunohistochemistry respectively.


RESULTS
Herba Epimedii and Radix Astragali could effectively reduce the production of TNF-alpha and inhibit NF-kappa B activity, and the efficacies in the three treated group were similar, showing insignificant difference among them.


CONCLUSIONS
Application of Herba Epimedii and Radix Astragali in the attack or remission stage of asthma could restrain the development of inflammation by reducing the production of TNF-alpha and inhibiting NF-kappa B activity.
Xie
Jin-yu
JY
Institute of Integrative Medicine, Huashan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200040.
Dong
Jing-cheng
JC
Gong
Zhao-hua
ZH
D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D027885:Astragalus propinquus; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D011914:Rats, Inbred BN; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D016328:NF-kappa B; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C046314:epimedii flavone