Effects of Ligustrazine on airway inflammation and airway remodeling in asthmatic mice

Objective To investigate the mechanism of Ligustrazine on allergic airway inflammation and airway remodeling in asthmatic mice.Methods Thirty-nine healthy male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: the normal group(n = 9),the asthma model group(n = 10),the Ligustrazine group(n = 10),and the dexamethasone group(n = 10).The asthma model was established.The pathologic changes of lung tissue were observed.Counts of eosinophil(EOS)and total cell numbers in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)were counted,the concentrations of TNF-α in BALF and serum were measured by ELISA.The thickness of airway smooth muscle and bronchial wall in lung tissue were measured.Results Compared with the asthma group,total cell number in BALF,EOS % in serum and BALF and the level of TNF-α in BALF and serum in the group treated with Ligustrazine were significantly decreased(P 0.05).Compared with asthma group,both the thickness of total bronchial wall and the smooth muscle in Ligustrazine treated group were significantly decreased(P 0.05).Conclusions Ligustrazine can reduce airway inflammation,and inhibit the remodeling of bronchi.