Nepeta Volatile Oil Of Inflammatory Mediators Leukotriene Antagonism

Herba Schizonepetae, the above-ground part of schizonepeta tenui-folia Briq.(family Labiatae), is one of commonly used Chinese herb that belongs to the category of relieving Exterior syndrome. It is pungent in flavour, slightly warm in nature and acts on the lung and liver channels. Pungent for dispersing wind with mild effect, it is often used to treat wind-cold and wind-heat due to exo-pathogens, itch from Germen measles and other syndromes. Sir-baked and carbonized herb for acting on blood, has a hemostatic effect. Our previous studies demonstrated that the volatile oil, one of the major effective components of this herb, had obvious anti-inflammatory effects on many inflammation animal models, and mechanism may be related to the pathway of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism. Based on its effect and use in clinic and previous results, this study investigated the effect of Herba Schizonepetae' volatile oil (Sto) on metabolites concentration of arachidonic acid in pleurisy model rats and leucocyte sample resulted from abdominal cavity, by means of RP-HPLC and ELASE methods. Sto significantly decreased the quantities of leucocyte migration into pleural cavity as well as the concentration of leukotrieneB4 (LTB4) in serum in carrangeenan-induced acute inflammation in rats, and suppressed arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism in leucocyte lavage sample of abdominal cavity. It suggests that the anti-inflammatory effects of Sto, due to its suppression effect on metabolism of AA, may allow it to alleviate the inflammation symptoms.