Effects of Maxing Ersan Decoction on Airway Inflammation and Intestinal Flora in Asthmatic Rats

GUAN Jin; ZHANG Feng; QIN Yanhong

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1006-3250.2026.02.022

Abstract：Objective To study the effect of Maxing Ersan decoction on airway inflammation and its effect on intestinal flora in asthmatic rats,and to reveal the intestinal microecological mechanism of the prevention and treatment of asthma by regulating intestinal microbiota.Methods Thirty-two SPF-grade male SD rats were randomly divided into blank group(C),model group(M),Maxing Ersan decoction group(Z),and dexamethasone group(D).The asthma model was prepared by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin(OVA)and aluminium hydroxide gel sensitization,and OVA nasal drip excitation.After 10 days of drug intervention,the rats were observed for general conditions,histopathological changes in lungs,and changes in intestinal microorganisms were analysed by 16S rDNA sequencing.Results 16S rDNA sequencing showed that the species diversity and abundance of the intestinal flora of the rats in the model group were reduced,and the species diversity and abundance of the flora were increased after treatment with Maxing Ersan decoction.At the phylum,the abundance of Firmicutes in the model group decreased compared to the blank group,but increased after intervention with Maxing Ersan decoction.At the family,compared with the blank group,the abundance of Muribaculaceae decreased,but after treatment with Maxing Ersan decoction,the abundance of Muribaculaceae in the microbiota increased.At the genus,the abundance of Lactobacillus in the model group decreased compared to the blank group,but increased after intervention with Maxing Ersan decoction.The LEfSe analysis results showed that the gut microbiota of rats in the Maxing Ersan decoction group had the highest relative abundance of Firmicutes and Lachnospiraceae.KEGG functional prediction shows that in the gut microbiota of rats,carbohydrate metabolism and amino acid metabolism pathways are most closely related,and are associated with functions such as transcription and membrane transport.Conclusion Maxing Ersan decoction can significantly increase the abundance of intestinal beneficial flora,and effectively inhibit the colonization of pathogenic bacteria,which may be one of the key ways to exert the anti-asthma effect of Maxing Ersan decoction and reflects the therapeutic characteristics of the regulation of the"gut-lung axis"of traditional Chinese medicine.