Characteristics and Mechanisms of Biyuan Heji and Its Disassembled Formulas in Intervening the Syndrome Transformation of Acute Rhinosinusitis

FANG Yang; SUN Xincheng; ZHOU Huixia; LI Weiyi; XUE Shanshan; BAI Lu; HE Kaiyuan; WU Yongjun

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1006-3250.2026.02.023

Abstract：Objective To investigate the intervention characteristics and potential mechanisms of Biyuan Heji and its disassembled formulas on the syndrome transformation of acute rhinosinusitis(ARS)from"wind-cold"dominance to"lung heat"dominance.Methods One hundred and forty-four SD rats were randomly divided into six groups:control group,model group,Biyuan Heji group,wind-cold dispelling group,lung heat clearing group,and Western medicine group.Except for the control group,all other groups were modeled using an expanded sponge combined with Staphylococcus aureus.After seven consecutive days of intragastric administration,behavioral,histopathological,and ultrastructural changes were observed before administration and on days 3,7,and 14 post-administration.Immunohistochemistry(IHC),ELISA,Western blot,and RT-qPCR were used to detect the expression of related inflammatory factors,signaling pathways,and hypoxia factors.Results The model group exhibited disordered nasal mucosal epithelial structure and significant inflammatory cell infiltration.All treatment groups showed alleviated inflammatory responses,with the Biyuan Heji group and Western medicine group demonstrating the most pronounced changes.The wind-cold dispelling group showed significant improvement on day 3 post-administration,while the lung heat clearing group exhibited notable effects on day 7.Compared with the model group,the treatment groups downregulated the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1),interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-6,IL-8,IL-10,and IL-12 to varying degrees,improved epithelial ultrastructure,and reduced the ratios of phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase to total p38(p-p38/p38)and phosphorylated nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)p65 subunit to total p65(p-p65/p65).The mRNA expression levels of HIF-1α and VEGF in the model group peaked on day 7.Biyuan Heji and Western medicine significantly inhibited their gene expression from day 3 onward.The wind-cold dispelling group showed more prominent inhibitory effects in the early stage(days 3-7),while the lung heat clearing group demonstrated greater advantages in the later stage(days 7-14).Conclusion This study confirmed that the disassembled wind-cold dispelling group and lung heat clearing group exerted their advantages in the early and later stages,respectively,and revealed their close association with changes in inflammatory factors,HIF-1α,and VEGF.Biyuan Heji may intervene in the syndrome evolution of ARS from"wind-cold"dominance to"lung heat"dominance by regulating the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(p38 MAPK)/nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway.