Objective To explore the possible mechanism of Compound Zhongjiefeng Nebulizer（复方肿节风雾化剂

CZN） in the treatment of chronic pharyngitis. Methods Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into normal group（n=10） and model group（n=50）. The rats in the model group were injected with group A beta hemolytic streptococcus into the pharynx to develop the model of chronic pharyngitis. The 42 successfully modeled rats were further randomly divided into model group（n=10）

ampicillin sodium group（n=8） and CZN low

medium

and high-dose groups（each with 8 rats）. The CZN low

medium

and high-dose groups were given ultrasonic atomization of 20 ml solution containing 2.33

4.66

and 9.32 g/（kg·d） of CZN

respectively; the normal group and the model group received atomization of the same volume of normal saline; the ampicillin sodium group was injected intraperitoneally with 0.93 g/（kg·d） of ampicillin sodium. The hair

mental state

oral secretions

and pharyngeal mucosa of rats in each group were assessed on the 4 th and 14 th day after modeling. After 14 days

the pathology of the pharyngeal mucosa was observed through HE staining; ELISA method was used to detect the content of the tumor necrosis factor α（TNF-α）

interleukin 1β（IL-1β） and interleukin 6（IL-6） in the pharyngeal mucosal tissue; RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry were used to detect tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6（TRAF6）

nuclear factor κB p65（NF-κB p65） protein and mRNA expression. Results Compared to those of the normal group

the pharyngeal mucosal structure of the model group was incomplete and damaged heavily; epithelial shedding

necrosis and massive inflammatory cell infiltrations were seen; the levels of TNF-α

IL-1β and IL-6 in the pharyngeal mucosa significantly increased

as well as the TRAF-6 and NF-κB p65 protein and mRNA expression（P<0.05）. Compared to the model group

there was no obvious keratinization in the pharyngeal mucosal epithelium in the high-dose and middle-dose CZN group and the ampicillin sodium group; no obvious hyperplasia of the compound squamous epithelium and a small amount of inflammatory cell infiltration were seen

and the muscle fibers were arranged neatly; the compound squamous epithelium in the pharyngeal mucosal tissue of the CZN low-dose group was keratinized

proliferated and shed

with submucosal edema

massive inflammatory cell infiltration and irregularly arranged muscular fibers. Compared to the model group

the high-dose and middle-dose CZN group and the ampicillin sodium group had decreased levels of TNF-α

IL-1β and IL-6 in the pharyngeal mucosal tissue

as well as decreased TRAF-6 and NF-κB p65 protein and mRNA expression（P<0.05）. Conclusion Compound Zhongjiefeng Nebulizer can effectively improve the inflammatory status of the pharyngeal mucosa in rats model of chronic pharyngitis; and the high and medium doses are more effective. The mechanism of action may be related to the regulation of the TRAF6/NF-κB p65 pathway in the pharyngeal mucosa tissue.