Abstract
Purpose : We hope to evaluate the effectiveness of Citri Reticulatae Viride Pericarpium for the bronchial asthma using assesment on the vascular endothelial growth factor after Citri Reticulatae Viride Pericarpium was intravenously administered OVA-sensitized and -challenged mice. Material and methods: Eleven female mice, 8-10 weeks of age and free of murine specific pathogens, were used. Of the eleven mice, one mouse was not sensitized and ten mice were sensitized by intraperitoneal injection of OVA. Of the sensitized mice, three mice didn't administrate Citri Reticulatae Viride Pericarpium and seven mice administrated Citri Reticulatae Viride Pericarpium. Mice were sensitized on days 1 and 14 by intraperitoneal injection of 20 ㎍ OVA. On days 21, 22, and 23 after the initial sensitization, the mice were challenged for 30 minutes with an aerosol of 1 % OVA in saline. Citri Reticulatae Viride Pericarpium administered 200mg/kg in the tail of the mouse, one time per day, for 7 days, beginning 14 days after first sensitization. Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed 72 hours after the last challenge, and level of VEGF in the BAL fluid were measured by Western blot analysis. Results: Western blot analysis revealed that VEGF protein levels were increased in the all three mice which were challenge with OVA without administered Chung-pi compared the normal mouse. However, in the groups of the administered Chung-pi, the VEGF protein level markedly decreased in six of seven mice. Conclusion : Citri Reticulatae Viride Pericarpium might be effect the treatment of the bronchial asthma as a inhibition of the VEGF.