title: Effects of Inhalable Microparticles of Seonpyejeongcheon-Tang in an Asthma Mouse Model: - Effects of Microparticles of SJT.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Allergic asthma generally presents with symptoms of wheezing, coughing, breathlessness, and airway inflammation. Seonpyejeongcheon-tang (SJT) consists of 12 herbs. It originated from Jeongcheon-tang (JT), also known as Ding-chuan-tang, composed of 7 herbs, in She-sheng-zhong-miao-fang. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of local delivery of SJTviainhalable microparticles in an asthma mouse model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Microparticles containing SJT were produced by spray-drying with leucine as an excipient. SJT microparticles were evaluated with respect to their aerodynamic properties,in vitrocytotoxicity,in vivotoxicity, and therapeutic effects on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma in comparison with orally-administered SJT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SJT microparticles provided desirable aerodynamic properties (fine particle fraction of 48.9% ± 6.4% and mass median aerodynamic diameter of 3.7 ± 0.3 μm). SJT microparticles did not show any cytotoxicity against RAW 264.7 macrophages at concentrations of 0.01 - 3 mg/mL. Inhaled SJT microparticles decreased the levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, IL-17A, eotaxin and OVA-IgE in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in mice with OVA-induced asthma. These effects were verified by histological evaluation of the levels of infiltration of inflammatory cells and collagen, destructions of alveoli and bronchioles, and hyperplasia of goblet cells in lung tissues. The effects of SJT microparticles in the asthma model were equivalent to those of orally-administered SJT extract.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that SJT is a promising agent for inhalation therapy for patients with asthma.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Traditional Medicine and Bioscience, Daejeon University, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Won-Kyung
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory System, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Daejeon University, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Chul-Hwa
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Institute of Traditional Medicine and Bioscience, Daejeon University, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Hee
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Institute of Traditional Medicine and Bioscience, Daejeon University, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Hyeong
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory System, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Hanny University, Kyeongsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Hae-Yoon
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States; Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States.
authors.forename: Yoon
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yeo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Traditional Medicine and Bioscience, Daejeon University, Daejeon, Korea; Department of Respiratory System, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Daejeon University, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Yang-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Park
keywords:  Seonpyejeongcheon-tang (SJT);  cigarette smoking;  inhalable microparticles;  spray drying; asthma