Asthma is a chronic lung inflammation which affects many people. As current therapies for asthma mainly rely on administration of glucocorticoids and have many side effects, new therapy is needed. In this study, we investigated Nepeta bracteata Benth., a traditional Uygur Herb, for its therapeutics effect in OVA induced asthmatic mice model. Treatment of OVA sensitized asthma mice with extract from Nepeta bracteata Benth. demonstrated improved lung pathology, as well as reduced infiltration of eosinophil and neutrophil. Nepeta bracteata Benth. extract also contributed to the rebalance of Th17/Treg cell via decreasing the Th17 cell and increasing the Treg, which was corresponding with the inhibited Th17 cytokine response and increased IL‐10 level. Moreover, the reduced TGF‐β level and Smad2/3 protein level also suggested that Nepeta bracteata Benth. extract could inhibit TGF‐β mediated airway remodelling as well. Taken together, these data suggested that Nepeta bracteata Benth. may be a novel candidate for future antiasthma drug development.

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Inflammation plays a pivotal role in the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases, in which, the endothelium dysfunction has been a key element. The current study was designed to explore the vasodilatory effect of anti‐inflammatory herbs which have been traditionally used in different clinical applications. The total saponins fromActinidia argutaradix (SAA), total flavonoids fromGlycyrrhizaeradix et rhizoma (FGR), total coumarins fromPeucedaniradix (CPR), and total flavonoids fromSpatholobicaulis (FSC) were extracted. The isometric measurement of vasoactivity was used to observe the effects of herbal elements on the isolated aortic rings with or without endothelium. To understand endothelium‐independent vasodilation, the effects of herb elements on agonists‐induced vasocontractility and on the contraction of endothelium‐free aortic rings exposed to a Ca²⁺‐free medium were examined. Furthermore, the role of nitric oxide signaling in endothelium‐dependent vasodilation was also evaluated. In summary, FGR and FSC exhibit potent anti‐inflammatory effects compared to CPR and SAA. FGR exerts the strongest vasodilatory effect, while CPR shows the least. The relaxation induced by SAA and FSC required intact endothelia. The mechanism of this vasodilation might involve eNOS. CPR‐mediated vasorelaxation appears to involve interference with intracellular calcium homeostasis, blocking Ca²⁺influx or releasing intracellular Ca²⁺.

Objective: This study aims to explore the fingerprint and quality control index components of Jiuwei Jiangtang Oral Liquid (JWJT), known for its therapeutic effects on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: This study employed network pharmacology and molecular docking to screen the core components, core targets, and pathways of JWJT. Additionally, HPLC fingerprint was established for 12 batches of JWJT. 12 batches of JWJT were evaluated using stoichiometry and common peaks were determined following a similarity assessment. The effective substances were selected to verify the index components of JWJT through assessing their control over glucose consumption in insulin-resistant HepG2 cells and their α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Results: Through network pharmacology and molecular docking analysis, puerarin, calycosin, ellagic acid, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, and kaempferol were identified as core components of JWJT for treating T2DM. Key targets such as AKT1, PIK3R1, INSR, TNF, and EGFR were implicated in regulating pathways including HIF-1, MAPK, and PI3K-Akt in T2DM treatment. The HPLC fingerprints of 12 batches of JWJT samples revealed 10 common peaks, with puerarin, calycosin, ellagic acid, and kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside specifically identified among 4 chromatographic peaks. Using chemical pattern recognition, samples were categorized into two groups, with puerarin, calycosin, and ellagic acid identified as differential markers. Verification through glucose consumption in insulin-resistant HepG2 cells and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity confirmed that puerarin, calycosin, and ellagic acid were active ingredients suitable as quality control indicators for JWJT. Conclusion: The JWJT fingerprint method established in this study is both simple and reproducible. The selected index components will serve as the basis for quality control of JWJT and introduce a novel approach for selecting and verifying quality index components of JWJT in T2DM treatment.