Anti-inflammatory activity of Yanshu spraying agent in animal models.

Acute pharyngitis is characterized by an inflammation of the mucous membranes in the pharynx. Yanshu spraying agent was prepared according to the traditional Chinese formulation for the treatment of acute pharyngitis. The present study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of Yanshu in xylene-induced ear edema in mice and carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats by measuring the degree of edema in the animal models. The histopathology and the levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and cycloxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the hind paws of the carrageenan-treated rats were also analyzed. The results showed that Yanshu significantly reduced ear edema in the mice and paw edema in the rats. Furthermore, treatment with Yanshu also reduced the number of inflammatory cells in tissue and decreased the production of PGE2 and COX-2. These results suggest that Yanshu possesses potent anti-inflammatory activity mediated by the inhibition of COX-2 expression which, in turn, downregulates the inflammatory mediator PGE2.