Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of early intervention with Fangxiaoyin Granules （Granules for preventing asthma） on airway inflammation in asthmatic mice.Methods Fifty healthy BALB/c mice were randomized into 5 groups

i.e.normal control group

asthma model group

Fangxiaoyin Granules small-dose group

Fangxiaoyin Granules large-dose group

and budesonide （BUD） group

with 10in each.The asthmatic models were established with ovalbumin （OVA） sensitization for inspiration.The Fangxiaoyin Granules small-dose group and large-dose group were given small-dose （500g/L crude medicine） and large-dose （2500g/L crude medicine） of Fangxiaoyin Granules respectively through gastric feeding from the first day of sensitization

once a day

0.4ml each time

26days in all.The normal control group and asthma model group were given normal saline in the equal amount through gastric feeding.The BUD group was given BUD solution （0.5g/L） for nasal dripping since the 23rd day under the ethyl ether inhalation anesthesia

0.01ml/day

for 3days.Forty-eight hours after the last inspiration

the mice were put to execution.The contents of serum interleukin-4 （IL-4）

interleukin-5 （IL-5）

interfer-on-γ （IFN-γ）

and interleukin-12 （IL-12） were measured

and the eosinophils （EOS） infiltration in the lung and marrow EOS% were observed with photoelectric microscope.Results In the asthma model group

the HE dyeing of the lung tissues showed that there were massive inflammatory infiltration

mainly EOS and neutrophils;the marrow EOS%

serum IL-4/IFN-γratio

and IL-5/IL-12ratio were significantly increased in comparing with those of the normal control group （P<0.01）.In the Fangxiaoyin Granules large-dose group and BUD group

the marrow EOS% was significantly decreased

the airway and perivascular inflammatory infiltration was significantly inhibited

and serum IL-4/IFN-γratio and IL-5/IL-12ratio were significantly decreased

the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant （P>0.05）.Conclusion Fangxiaoyin Granules could effectively down-regulate serum IL-4/IFN-γratio and IL-5/IL-12ratio

decreasing the marrow EOS%

and inhibiting the airway inflammation mainly with EOS infiltration.