title: The effects of the standardized herbal formula PM014 on pulmonary inflammation and airway responsiveness in a murine model of cockroach allergen-induced asthma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  PM014 is a modified form of the Chung-Sang-Bo-Ha-Tang (CSBHT) herbal formula that has been used to treat chronic pulmonary diseases in Korea for centuries. Previously, we developed a formulation of PM014 based on a series of in vitro and in vivo screening efforts that comprises seven herbal extracts. The PM014 formula includes the root of Rehmannia glutinosa, the cortex of Paeonia suffruticosa, the fruit of Schizandra chinensis, the root of Asparagus cochinchinensis, seeds of Prunus armeniaca, the root of Scutellaria baicalensis and the root of Stemona sessilifolia. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the lungs that is characterized by wheezing, bronchial contraction, and chest tightness. In addition, the airway becomes hypersensitive and narrows through an inflammatory reaction mediated by Th2 cells. The present study was conducted to evaluate the ability of PM014 to prevent allergic airway inflammation and to attenuate airway responses in a cockroach allergen-induced mouse model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mice sensitized to and challenged with cockroach allergen were treated with oral administration of PM014. Airway resistance was determined by whole body plethysmography. In addition, Th2 cytokines and immune cell profiles of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and inflammatory mediators in serum were analyzed by ELISA. A series of histological examinations were also conducted to demonstrate the effects of PM014 on airway remodeling, goblet cell hyperplasia and inflammatory responses in the lung.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PM014 significantly inhibited the number of total cells, eosinophils, neutrophils, macrophages and lymphocytes in the BAL fluid of mice that were challenged with cockroach allergen. In addition, PM014 reduced the levels of Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13) in the BAL fluid and inflammatory mediators such as IgE in the serum, as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Histopathological analysis also showed that PM014 substantially inhibited eosinophil infiltration into the airway, goblet cell hyperplasia and smooth muscle hypertrophy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, our results indicate that PM014 has significant effects on allergic airway inflammation upon exposure to cockroach allergen in a mouse model. According to these outcomes, PM014 may have therapeutic potential as a treatment for allergic asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, #1 Hoekidong, Dongdaemoon-ku, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: jhkh242@naver.com.
authors.forename: Kyung-Hwa
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of East-West Medicine, Kyung Hee University, #1 Hoekidong, Dongdaemoon-ku, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: estella277@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: Hei-Lim
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, #1 Hoekidong, Dongdaemoon-ku, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: ih_sj@naver.com.
authors.forename: Soojin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Central Research Institute, Hanlim Pharm. Co. Ltd., 1007 Yoobang Dong, Yongin, Kyounggi Do, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: duddms0910@naver.com.
authors.forename: Geunhyeog
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Central Research Institute, Hanlim Pharm. Co. Ltd., 1007 Yoobang Dong, Yongin, Kyounggi Do, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: kmr@hanlim.com.
authors.forename: Miran
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of East-West Medicine, Kyung Hee University, #1 Hoekidong, Dongdaemoon-ku, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: drminjk@naver.com.
authors.forename: Joon-Ki
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Min
authors.affiliation: Department of East-West Medicine, Kyung Hee University, #1 Hoekidong, Dongdaemoon-ku, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: mbi@khu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Byung-Il
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Min
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, #1 Hoekidong, Dongdaemoon-ku, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea; Institute of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, #1 Hoekidong, Dongdaemoon-ku, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: hbae@khu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Hyunsu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bae
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D056151:Airway Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D003058:Cockroaches / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010993:Plethysmography, Whole Body; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D056910:Republic of Korea
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D016207:Cytokines; D010936:Plant Extracts; C501508:chung-sang-bo-ha-tang; D007073:Immunoglobulin E
keywords: Airway hyperresponsiveness; Asthma; Cockroach; PM014