Abstract: Objective To explore the effect of scorpion ephedra antispasmodic granules for asthma on airway inflammation in asthmatic mice and Th1/Th2 type cytokines changes and its possible mechanism.Methods Totally 24 male mice of only 6 to 8 weeks old were randomly divided into four groups:normal control group, asthma model group, small-dose traditional Chinese medicine group, large-dose Chinese medicine group, 6 mice in each group. Make bronchial asthma model, and the samll-dose traditional Chinese medicine group and large-dose TCM group were given scorpion ephedra antispasmodic granules for asthma to let boiled preparation, 0.72 and 2.89 g daily to make 20 mL/kg aqueous mix solution for stomach irrigation twice a day, for 10 days; normal control group and the asthma model group were given the equal amount of saline. Enzyme linked immune sorbent assay and immunoblotting were used to detect leukocyte mediated-4(IL-4), IL-5, interferon gamma(IFN-γ) content in bronchial alveolar irrigation lavage fluid (BALF) and phosphorylated p38 mitogen activated protein kinase(p38MAPK) changes in the lung tissue, and the pathological changes of inflammatory cells in BALF and lung tissue were observed.Results In BALF of asthmatic model group,inflammatory cell count, IL-4 and IL-5 levels increased and IFN-γlevels decreased; in lung tissues phosphorylated p38MAPK expression level increased, and compared with the normal control group, the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05). The inflammatory cell counts, IL-4 and IL-5 levels decreased and IFN-γ levels increased, in BALF of large-dose Chinese medicine group increased; in lung tissues the phosphorylated p38MAPK expression level reduced, and compared with the asthma model group, the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05). Comparing small with large-dose TCM group, the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05). Conclusion p38MAPK may be involved in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. Scorpion ephedra antispasmodic granules for asthma has a protective effect on asthma in mice, and the mechanism may be related to inhibiting p38MAPK phosphorylation, regulating the imbalance of Th1/Th2 cells and reducing the inflammatory cell infiltration.

Key words: asthma, scorpion ephedra antispasmodic granules for asthma, p38MAPK, Th1/Th2 cytokine, mouse；animal, experiment