Effects of wuwei dilong decoction on inflammatory cells and cytokines in asthma model guinea pigs.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effects and the mechanism of Wuwei Dilong Decoction (Schisandra Fruit and Earthworm Decoction) for treatment of asthma.


METHODS
The asthma guinea pig model was established with spray of ovalbumin (OVA). Fifteen days later, the guinea pigs were administered by intra-gastric perfusion of Wuwei Dilong Decoction once a day for 8 consecutive days. Blood samples were taken for testing the total leucocytes, eosinophil (EOS), lymphocytes, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4).


RESULTS
In the asthma model group, the total leucocytes, EOS and lymphocytes were all increased, with significant differences as compared with the different dosage Wuwei Dilong Decoction groups (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). The serum LTB4 in the asthma model group was significantly increased and IFN-gamma decreased. After administration of Wuwei Dilong Decoction of the large, medium and small dosages, LTB4 decreased, while IFN-gamma increased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Wuwei Dilong Decoction can inhibit infiltration and diffusion of the inflammatory cells in the asthma model guinea pigs, and regulate LTB4 and IFN-gamma, which is probably one of the important mechanisms of Wuwei Dilong Decoction for relieving asthma.
Li
Xiang-Hua
XH
Medical College of Changliang University, Jingzhou 434000, China.
Tu
Xian-Yu
XY
Zhang
De-Xin
DX
Xu
Jia-Feng
JF
Wang
Wen-Ying
WY
Zhang
Yuan
Y
Du
Ya-Ming
YM
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D007975:Leukotriene B4 / Q000097:blood; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D011897:Random Allocation; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C546141:wuwei dilong; D007975:Leukotriene B4; D007371:Interferon-gamma