Anti-Asthma Effect of an Active Components Group from Decoction of and Its Chemical Composition Characterized by Liquid Chromatography-Quadrupole Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry.

The decoction of is used as a traditional medicine for treatment of asthma in China with a long clinical history. The aim of the study was to investigate the anti-asthma activities of an active components group obtained from the decoction of in histamine and ovalubumin induced asthma guinea pigs. The experimental asthma model was established with spray of histamine and ovalbumin (OVA) followed by intragastric administration of extract and fractions. The incubation period of asthma, serum IFN-γ, IL-4, and LTB4 levels were tested and determined. In addition, liquid chromatography-quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS/MS) was used to identify the bioactive components in active fraction. The significant increase of asthma incubation period, serum IFN-γ level were observed in the asthma guinea pigs treated with the active components group. The serum IL-4 and LTB4 levels were obviously decreased compared to that of model controls. In addition, twenty oligopeptides were first identified or characterized in the active fraction from the decoction of . The results indicated that can inhibit infiltration and diffusion of inflammatory cells in asthma model guinea pigs, and regulate IFN-γ, IL-4, and LTB4 secretions. It is reasonable to assume that the anti-asthma activities of mainly resulted from these oligopeptides. Also, synergistic effects among their compounds may exist in the anti-asthma activity of .