Objective To observe the effect and mechanism of Maxing Xiongting Mixture [mixture of Mahuang（Herba Ephedrae）

Xingren（Semen Armeniacae Amarum）

Chuanxiong（Rhizoma Chuanxiong） and Tinglizi（Semen Lepidii）] on the airway inflammation in asthmatic rats.Methods One hundred SD rats were randomized into six groups

i.e.normal control group（n=16）

model control group（n=16）

Maxing Xiongting Mixture small-dose group（n=17）

Maxing Xiongting Mixture middle-dose group（n=17）

Maxing Xiongting Mixture large-dose group（n=17） and dexamethasone group（n=17）.Except for the normal control group

the corresponding drugs were given to the asthmatic models established with ovalbumin（OVA）.Seven days later

the rats were sacrificed and the lung tissues were removed for HE staining and observing pathogenic changes.The nerve growth factor（NGF） and NGF mRNA in lung tissue was detected with immunohistochemical method and in situ hybridization（ISH） technique.The protein kinase C（PKC） and matrix metalloproteinase-9（MMP-9） in lung tissue was determined with immunohistochemical method.T-bet mRNA and GATA-3mRNA was detected with reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction（RT-PCR） method.The expression of Interleukin-4（IL-4） and interferon-γ（IFN-γ） was detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA）.Results Comparing with the model control group

inflammatory cell infiltration reduced

peribronchial edema relieved and airway epithelial damage decreased in Maxing Xiongting Mixture smalldose

middle-dose and large-dose groups.Comparing with the model control group

T-bet mRNA

GATA-3mRNA and T-bet mRNA /GATA-3mRNA ratio decreased significantly in Maxing Xiongting Mixture middle-dose and large-dose groups（P< 0.01）.Comparing with the model control group

the expression of NGF mRNA and NGF significantly decreased in Maxing Xiongting Mixture small-dose

middle-dose and large-dose groups and dexamethasone group（P<0.01）.The expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide（CGRP） significantly decreased in Maxing Xiongting Mixture small-dose

middle-dose and largedose groups and dexamethasone group as compared with the model control group（P<0.05or P<0.01）

especially in dexam-ethasone group（P<0.05or P<0.01）.Comparing with the model control group

the IFN-γ /IL-4ratio decreased significantly in Maxing Xiongting Mixture middle-dose and small-dose groups（P<0.05or P<0.01）.Conclusion Maxing Xiongting Mixture could reduce inflammatory cell infiltration and airway inflammation and relieve asthma.