title: Loki zupa (Luooukezupa) decoction reduced airway inflammation in an OVA-induced asthma mouse model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Loki zupa (Luooukezupa) decoction, consisting of the roots of Hyssopuscuspidatus Boriss (Shenxiangcao) and Irishalophila Pall root (Yuanweigen), is commonly used in Uygur medicine to treat asthma. However, the mode of action of this material has yet to be elucidated. This study aims to investigate the effects of Loki zupa decoction on the airway inflammation of an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma mouse model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mice were divided into normal control (NC), asthma (A), high, medium and low doses of Loki zupa decoction (L 14.0, L 7.0, L 3.5), water extract (LW), n-butanol extract (LN), ethyl acetate extract (LE) and dexamethasone (DEX) groups. Antiasthmatic model was induced by OVA sensitization and challenged using BALB/c mice. Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) toward methacholine (Mch) was assessed using Buxco equipment. Lung inflammation was measured by hematoxylin and eosin staining and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cell count and classification. Inflammatory cytokines in BALF and serum were analyzed by Bio-Plex assay, and mRNA levels were investigated by qPCR analysis. The roots of H. Boriss (250 g) and I. Pall (250 g) were decocted, concentrated and diluted to 14.0, 7.0 and 3.5 g crude herb/kg body weight. The LW, LN and LE of the Loki zupa decoction were prepared and diluted to a dose equivalent to 7 g of crude herb/kg body weight.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Loki zupa decoction and its extracts significantly attenuated the AHR towards Mch (all P < 0.05). Treatment with Loki zupa decoction and its extracts relieved the infiltration of inflammatory cells in and around the airways, and reduced the total white blood cell (all P < 0.05), neutrophil (all P < 0.05), monocyte (all P < 0.05) and eosinophil (all P < 0.05) counts in the BALF. The BALF samples collected from the mice treated with the Loki zupa decoction and its extracts had lower levels of IL-1β (all P < 0.05), TNF-α (all P < 0.05), IL-2 (all P < 0.05), IL-4 (P = 0.047) and IL-5 (all P < 0.05). The serum samples of these mice also had lower IL-1β (all P < 0.05), TNF-α (all P < 0.05), IL-4 (all P < 0.05) and IL-5 (all P < 0.05) levels and higher levels of IFN-γ (P < 0.001) compared with the OVA-induced asthma mouse model. qPCR analysis revealed that Loki zupa decoction and its extracts inhibited mRNA expression of IL-4 (all P < 0.05), IL-5 (all P < 0.05) and IL-13 (all P < 0.05) and promoted mRNA expression of IFN-γ (all P < 0.05) in asthmatic mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Loki zupa decoction reduced AHR, attenuated airway inflammation, promoted Th1 and suppressed Th2 cell functions in an OVA-induced asthma mouse model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Middle Urumqi Road, Shanghai, 200040 China.|Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Fudan University, 12 Middle Urumqi Road, Shanghai, 200040 China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Middle Urumqi Road, Shanghai, 200040 China.|Xinjiang Uygur Medical College, 370 West Beijing Road, Hotan, Xinjiang, 848000 China.
authors.forename: Muhammadjan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abduwaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Middle Urumqi Road, Shanghai, 200040 China.|Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Fudan University, 12 Middle Urumqi Road, Shanghai, 200040 China.
authors.forename: Mihui
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Middle Urumqi Road, Shanghai, 200040 China.|Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Fudan University, 12 Middle Urumqi Road, Shanghai, 200040 China.
authors.forename: Qingli
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Middle Urumqi Road, Shanghai, 200040 China.|Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Fudan University, 12 Middle Urumqi Road, Shanghai, 200040 China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Middle Urumqi Road, Shanghai, 200040 China.|Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Fudan University, 12 Middle Urumqi Road, Shanghai, 200040 China.
authors.forename: Yubao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Middle Urumqi Road, Shanghai, 200040 China.|Xinjiang Uygur Medical College, 370 West Beijing Road, Hotan, Xinjiang, 848000 China.
authors.forename: Mammat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nurahmat
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Middle Urumqi Road, Shanghai, 200040 China.|Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Fudan University, 12 Middle Urumqi Road, Shanghai, 200040 China.
authors.forename: Jingcheng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dong