The Study On Screening Yunnan Proprietary Chinese Medicine For Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

[Objective] To screen Yunnan proprietary Chinese medicine for severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS). [Methods] Mice were injected intratracheally with LPS to build acute lung injury (ALI) model. The death rate of mice at 4h , 8h , 12h and 24h after treatment with LPS was observed separately. The content of myeloperoxidase (MPO) , Evans blue dye (EB) and Superoxide anion radical (O2 ) in lung tissue ofmice were detected. We also measured lung wet/dry weight ratio (W/D), the phagocytosis of pulmonary alveolar macrophage (PAM), the number of polymorphonuclear (PMN) and the content of protein in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). In addition , we observed the pathological change of lung structure of mice induced by LPS . [Results] The lung W/D, the content of MPO , EB and O₂^- in mice lung tissue , the number of PMN and the content of protein in BALF increased significantly in 4h after treatment with LPS , and reached the peak at 12h (P < 0.01), and decreased at 24h (P > 0.05 ) . The phagocytosis of PAM was enhanced in 4h after treatment with LPS , then decreaced gradually and reached the minimus at 24h (P < 0.01). The pathological change of lung structure of mice induced by LPS : patch of solid change , thickening of alveolar septa, minimizing of alveolar spaces , hemorrhage , infiltrating of inflammatory cells and pieces of necrotic tissue were observed on the lung tissue section . Fibraurelinum and Gentiana scabra bge decreased the W/D , the content of MPO , EB and O2' in lung tissue of mice, the number of PMN and the content of protein in BALF (P < 0.05). They also enhanced the phagocytosis of PAM (P < 0.05)and reduced the pathological lesion of lung structure of mice induced by LPS . [Conclusions] Fibraurelinum and Gentiana scabra bge can decrease the death rate of ALI mice induced by LPS. They can decrease the degree of ALI, improve the immunocompeten-ce , especially the non-specific immunocompetence, and shorten the process of ALI . Fibraurelinum and Gentiana scabra bge may be effective proprietary Chinese medicine for SARS.