Bielory L, Lupoli K
Asthma and Allergy Research Center, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Newark 07103-2499, USA.
J Asthma. 1999;36(1):1-65. doi: 10.3109/02770909909065150.
This paper reviews the role of herbal-based medicines in the treatment of asthma and allergic rhinitis. A comprehensive literature search was performed of relevant English-language papers and abstracts were identified through a MEDLINE search and from bibliographies of the identified papers. Papers and studies pertaining to the use of medicinal plants in the treatment of asthma and allergic rhinitis were identified. They were then analyzed according to design, inclusion and exclusion criteria, population studied, variables tested, method of treatment (i.e., specific medicinal plants or herbal combinations), and results. The data have been reviewed and divided on the basis of culture and the effects of medicinal plants in asthma and allergy. A number of studies were found that support the use of some herbal medicines in asthma and allergy. Various derivatives from specific medicinal plants were identified as the antiasthma components and some mechanisms of action were explored. The results show positive effects of these herbs on bronchodilation, pulmonary function tests, and antagonism of asthma mediators such as histamine and platelet activating factor, corticosteroid levels, and clearance of mucus. Improved symptoms were also seen in patients with allergic rhinitis specifically on histamine-induced reactions, e.g., rhinorrhea, sneezing, and itching. From the review, there has been a role for some herbal medicines in the treatment of asthma and allergic rhinitis. Usage of herbal medicines has increased in recent years. Many of these medicinal plants provided relief of symptoms equal to allopathic medicines used. Specific chemical derivatives have been isolated from many of these plant products which act on the mechanisms and mediators that cause asthma and allergies. The amount of research on these products, especially in the United States, is limited. There is a lack of control of quantity and quality of the components in these remedies. Yet, many have fewer side effects than current therapy. Throughout the history of medicine, drugs have been developed from traditional medicine. By continuing to investigate how some of these herbal interventions work, we may be able to find additional effective medicines to treat asthma and allergies.
本文综述了草药类药物在哮喘和过敏性鼻炎治疗中的作用。我们对相关英文论文进行了全面的文献检索，通过医学文献数据库（MEDLINE）检索以及从已识别论文的参考文献中确定了摘要。识别出了与药用植物治疗哮喘和过敏性鼻炎相关的论文和研究。然后根据设计、纳入和排除标准、研究人群、测试变量、治疗方法（即特定药用植物或草药组合）以及结果对它们进行了分析。数据已根据文化以及药用植物在哮喘和过敏方面的作用进行了审查和分类。发现了一些支持某些草药用于哮喘和过敏治疗的研究。确定了特定药用植物的各种衍生物为抗哮喘成分，并探索了一些作用机制。结果表明，这些草药对支气管扩张、肺功能测试以及哮喘介质如组胺和血小板活化因子的拮抗作用、皮质类固醇水平和黏液清除有积极影响。在过敏性鼻炎患者中也观察到症状改善，特别是对组胺诱导的反应，如鼻溢、打喷嚏和瘙痒。从综述来看，一些草药在哮喘和过敏性鼻炎治疗中发挥了作用。近年来草药的使用有所增加。许多这些药用植物缓解症状的效果与所用的对抗疗法药物相当。已从许多这些植物产品中分离出特定的化学衍生物，它们作用于引发哮喘和过敏的机制及介质。对这些产品的研究数量，尤其是在美国，有限。这些药物中成分的数量和质量缺乏控制。然而，许多药物的副作用比目前的治疗方法少。在医学史上，药物一直是从传统医学发展而来的。通过继续研究这些草药干预措施的作用方式，我们或许能够找到更多治疗哮喘和过敏的有效药物。
