Action mechanism of Ephedra Herb drug group against influenza virus infection

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When one of Ephedra herb drug group "maoto" was orally administered to mice on upper respiratory tract infection of influenza virus from 4 h to 52 h postinfection (p.i.), the total IgA antibody (Ab) titers in nasal wash and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and total IgG Ab titer in serum were increased in comparison with water-treated control at 52 h p.i. The expressions of GATA3 (master transcription factor of Th2 cell) and TARC (Th2 chemokine) mRNA in the lung were decreased by administration of another Ephedra herb drug group "shoseiryuto" to airway inflammation model mice. These results indicate that maoto exerts influenza virus reducing effect at an early phase of the infection through probably augmentation of the natural Abs, and the efficacy of shoseiryuto against airway inflammation may be related to the suppressions of differentiation of Th0 into Th2 cell and accumulation of the Th2 cell in the lung.