The anti-inflammatory effect of Herba Schizonepetae volatile oil on carrageenan-induced acute pleurisy model in rats

Objective: To study the anti-inflammatory effect of Herba Schizonepetae volatile oil (Sto) on carrageenan-induced acute pleurisy model in rats, so as to provide the pharmacology basis for its efficacy of wind-damp-dispelling and cold-dissipating medicinal and clinical use.Method:Acute pleurisy model was induced by thoracic cavity injection of carrageenan, and Sto (0.4, 0.2 mL·kg-1) were intragastricly administrated two times before and after carrageenan injection. The anti-inflammatory effect of Sto was evaluated by detecting the volume of exudates, lencocyte count and classification, and protein contents in exudates. The mechanism of anti-inflammatory effect of Sto was investigated by detecting the contents of prostaglandins (PGE2), interleukin-1(IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)in exudates, and the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA ) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in lung tissue were also detected.Result:Sto decreased the volume of exudates, total leukocytes and the protein concentration in the exudates, as well as significantly reduced the levels of PGE2, IL-1 and TNF-α in exudates of pleurisy model.In the same time, Sto was also able to reduce the contents of MDA and MPO in lung tissue in carrageenan-treated rats. Conclusion:The results demonstrate that Sto exerts potent anti-inflammation effects on carrageenan-induced acute pleurisy in rats, which can be related with the inhibition of the generation of mediator of anti-inflammation and its antioxidation.