目的 探讨羌活提取物（EN）对哮喘小鼠Thl/Th2细胞平衡的影响，以及p38信号通路在其中的作用。 方法 60只雄性清洁级BABL/c小鼠，随机分为6组，每组10只，分别为正常对照组；卵蛋白(OVA)哮喘组；羌活低剂量组；羌活高剂量组、SB203580组和地塞米松组。在末次激发24 h后小鼠肺组织行HE染色。分别用ELISA检测支气管肺泡灌洗液 (BALF)中白细胞介素（IL）-4、IL-5、IL-13和γ-干扰素（IFN-γ）含量以及Western blotting检测肺组织IL-4、IFN-γ、P38蛋白表达。
结果 哮喘组小鼠与对照组小鼠相比较，BALF中炎症细胞计数、IL-4、IL-5、IL-13水平增高，而IFN-γ的表达明显降低(P<0.05)，肺部炎症浸润明显(P<0.05)；肺组织IL-4和磷酸化P38蛋白表达水平显著高于对照组(P<0.05)，而肺组织IFN-γ的表达明显低于对照组(P<0.05)。羌活低、高剂量组、SB203580组和地塞米松组与哮喘模型组相比较，BALF中炎症细胞计数、IL-4、IL-5、IL-13浓度以及肺组织IL-4和磷酸化P38蛋白表达水平均显著降低(P<0.05)；肺部炎症明显减轻(P<0.05)；BALF和肺组织中IFN-γ明显升高(P<0.05)。 结论 羌活提取物具有明显的抗哮喘作用，其机制可能是通过抑制P38信号通路，影响Thl/Th2细胞平衡实现的。

Objective To explore the effect of extract of notopterygium (EN) on Th1/Th2 cells balance and signaling pathway p38 in the asthma mouse model. Methods Sixty male BABL/c mice were randomly divided into six groups with 10 mice per group: normal group, ovalbumin（OVA）group, notopterygium low dose group, notopterygium high dose group, SB203580 group and dexamethasone group. The left lung was isolated for pathological examination. Lung sections were stained with HE. The number of total cells and different inflammatory cells were counted by an optical microscope. The concentrations of interleukin(IL)-4，IL-5，IL-13 and interferon-γ(IFN-γ) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured by ELISA. The Western blotting was performed to detect the IL-4, IFN-γ， P38 in lung tissue. Results In OVA group, the number of total cells and inflammatory cells, the concentrations of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 in BALF were significantly higher than those in normal group (P<0.05), but the concentration of IFN-γ in BALF was significantly lower than in normal group(P<0.05). Pulmonary inflammatory infiltration was more serious in OVA group than in normal group(P<0.05). IL-4 and phosphorylated P38 in lung tissue were significantly higher in OVA group than those in normal group (P<0.05), but IFN-γ level of lung tissue was significantly lower than in normal group (P<0.05). In notopterygium low and high dose groups, SB20358 group and dexamethasone group, the number of total cells and inflammatory cells, the concentrations of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 in BALF and IL-4, phosphorylated P38 in lung tissue were significantly lower than those in OVA group (P<0.05), the level of IFN-γ in BALF and lung tissue was significantly higher than in OVA group (P<0.05); Notopterygium, SB20358 and dexamethasone significantly reduced pulmonary inflammatory infiltration(P<0.05). Conclusion All these results indicate the extract of notopterygium roots can inhibit the development of asthma in the mouse model, and its possible mechanism is that Th1/Th2 cells balance may be changed while p38 signaling pathway is inhibited.