| Backgroud Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized byeosinophilic airway inflammation, reversible airflow obstruction and hyperresponsiveness (AHR). Increasing evidence suggests that asthma is driven by Th2 predominant responses in the lung. The Th2 cells and Th2-type cytokines play a central role in the pathogenesis of asthma. Many studies also suggest that IFN- gamma, secreted by Thl, suppresses the development and effector functions of Th2. With establishment of airway inflammatory theory, anti-inflammatory therapies have become most important therapeutic strategies for asthma up to now. Topical corticosteroids are used as the first line of treatment for asthma and are an effective means of reducing inflammation and bronchial constriction in the majority of patients. Although the most frequently reported side effects of inhaled corticosteroids are local effects, systemic side effects also have been reported. Adrenal suppression, decreased bone metabolism, and decreased growth are ofparticular concern in children, in whom asthma is increasing in frequency. Thus there is a need for new or alternative approaches to the control of this disease. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are attracting increasing interest for the treatment of asthma. It has been reported that some antiasthma TCM formulas reportedly improved symptoms and medical scores, increased peak expiratory flow values, or reduced the need for corticosteroids and beta2-agonists in patients, and reduced AHR and eosinophilia in animal models of asthma. However, there are few well-controlled scientific studies on the efficacy, safety and mechanisms of antion of TCMs used to treat asthma. In this study, we investigated the effect of Qing Fei Zhi Xiao Tang to inhibit airway inflammation in a murine model of asthma and to modulate Thl/Th2 balance in peripheral blood mononuclear cell by flow cytometry.MethodsResearch design Male C57BL/6 mice (6-8 week of age) were distributed into the following groups, ovalbumin sensitized group (OVA group), normal control group (NC group), budesonide treat group (BUD group), Qing Fei Zhi Xiao Tang treat group (TCM group, three doses). OVA group, TCM group and BUD group were sensitized intraperitoneally with OVA mixed with aluminum in saline (80(ag/mouse) twice at 14 days intervals and then challenged aerosolized on days 24, 25, and26. Qing Fei Zhi Xiao Tang (0.4ml/mouse) according to the corresponding dose was administered intragastrically after the first antigen sensitized and the once daily for 26 consecutive days. BUD-treated mice were anesthetized and received 350ug/kg intratracheally 23 days after the first antigen sensitized and then once daily for 4 days. NC group received saline solution6intragastrically daily. Forty-eight hours after the last OVA challenge all mice of every group were killed to collect peripheral blood (PB), bronchoalveolar lavage (BALF) and bone marrow (BM) cell suspension, cell counts and differentials. Then the lungs fixed in neutral buffered formaldehyde. Three-micro-meter paraffin sections were stained with hematoxylin and PAS and examined microscopically.Statistical analysis Data were analysis with SPSS 10.0 software. All results are expressed as the mean盨em. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results1. Effect of Qing Fei Zhi Xiao Tang on antigen-induced airway inflammation. An optimal dose of Qing Fei Zhi Xiao Tang 2.5g/ml for 26 days, was used in this study which was the dose to inhibit inflammation of the airways. We measured the total number of cells and percent eosinophils in BALF. The total number of cells and the number of eosinophils in BALF in the Qing Fei Zhi Xiao Tang were decreased significantly, compared with those of in OVA group (P<0.01), and higher than that of NC group. The percentage of inhibition to eosinophilia was 90% in BALF. But there was statistically significant difference between Qing Fei Zhi Xiao Tang and BUD treatment Forty-eight hours after allergen challenge, there is no difference in the total numb...
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