Effects of Astragalus polysaccharides on airway inflammation and interleukin-3 expression in asthmatic rats

【Objective】To observe the effect of astragalus polysaccharides on interleukin-3 expression and airway inflammation in asthmatic rats. 【Methods】36 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal control group (A group),model group (B group),curcumine treatment group (C group),12 rats in each group respectively. Rats were sensitized and challenged continually with ovalbumin (OVA) for the purpose of induction of asthma in rats. To observe asthmatic attack and airway inflammation in asthmatic rats. Interleukin-3 expression in rat pulmonary tissues was detected by using in situ hybridization method. 【Results】Asthmatic attack obviously in B group,gently in C group,absence of symptoms in A group. The total cell amount in bronchoalveolar lavage fliud and eosinophil were obviously higher in B group than C group and A group. The expression of interleukin-3 mRNA in C group was significantly higher than that in A group and it was lower than that in B group. 【Conclusion】The effect of astragalus polysaccharides on airway inflammation in asthmatic rats may be correlated with its inhibition on over expression of interleukin-3 in lung tissue.