Effect of Radix Stemonae concentrated decoction on the lung tissue pathology and inflammatory mediators in COPD rats.
BACKGROUND
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common and frequently occurring respiratory disease. At present, western medicine treatment of COPD mainly focuses on symptomatic treatment. Using Chinese medicines or integrated Chinese and Western medicines to treat stable COPD has significant efficacy. In this study, we aimed to observe the effect of Radix Stemonae concentrated decoction on the lung tissue pathology and inflammatory mediators in COPD rats and explore its possible mechanism.


METHODS
SD rats were randomized into blank group, COPD model group and Radix Stemonae group, 10 cases in each group. Rats were fed for 112 days. Before the rats were sacrificed, lung function of the animals was tested. The right lower lung was fixed for morphologic observation. The inflammatory mediators in serum were determined using enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay.


RESULTS
Body weight of animals in the model group was significantly decreased compared with blank group (P < 0.05). After gavage therapy with Radix Stemonae, body weight was significantly increased (P < 0.05). Compared with the blank group, pulmonary functions of rats in the model group were significantly abnormal (P < 0.05), while in Radix Stemonae group, these indicators turned much better than model group (P < 0.05). As for pathological changes in lungs, airway inflammation in the model group was aggravated. In the Radix Stemonae group, inflammation and emphysema were much milder. The concentrations of TNF-α, IL-8 and LTB4 in both model group and Radix Stemonae group were increased significantly (P < 0.05). But the levels in Radix Stemonae group were decreased significantly than model group (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Radix Stemonae concentrated decoction may mitigate and improve airway rebuilding in the lungs of COPD rats by inhibiting the release of inflammatory mediators.
Department of Respiratory, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 110 Ganhe Road, Shanghai, 200437, People's Republic of China.
Zhenwei
Z
Wang
Pulmonary Function Test Room, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital affiliated to Tongji University, Shanghai, 200433, People's Republic of China.
Wenlan
W
Yang
Department of Respiratory, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 110 Ganhe Road, Shanghai, 200437, People's Republic of China. yangpeilanmed@yeah.net.
Peilan
P
Yang
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital affiliated to Tongji University, No. 507 of Zhengmin Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, 200433, People's Republic of China. gaobeilanmed@yeah.net.
Beilan
B
Gao
General Outpatient Department, Community Health Service Center of Xinzhuang, Shanghai, 201199, People's Republic of China.
Lei
L
Luo
D000818:Animals; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000276:immunology; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D016209:Interleukin-8; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Inflammatory mediators; Pathology; Radix Stemonae