[Therapeutic effects of cepharanthine on the experimental otitis media with effusion]

This study was designed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of Cepharanthine for OME. Cepharanthine is a biscoclaurin type alkaloid, crude drug, and its main efficacy is to stabilize cell membranes. Experimental OME was induced in chinchillas by immunization with Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin (KLH) into the right tympanic cavity following systemic sensitization. Forty-five chinchillas, weighing 350-600g, were used in this study. The animals were divided into 5 groups. Group A (N = 5), Group B (N = 5) and Group C (N = 5) were intraperitoneally given 1mg/kg, 2mg/kg or 5mg/kg dose of cepharanthine respectively, daily, after the induction of OME; Group D (N = 5) received no medicine as a control group; Group E (N = 17) received intraperitoneal administration of 2mg/kg of cepharanthine daily, for 7 days before the local antigenic challenge. The presence of middle ear effusion (MEE) was monitored daily by tympanometry and fiberscopic observation of the eardrum. At four days after experimental OME occurred, MEEs were aspirated aseptically through the eardrum and processed to biochemical analysis. The animals were then killed for the observation with autoradiography used by 3H-cepharanthine. Results demonstrated that the dose of 2mg/kg cepharanthine is more effective, compared with that of 1mg/kg or 5mg/kg of cepharanthine. It was clear that this drug was immediately transferred to the middle ear following intraperitoneal administration and diffusely distributed in the middle ear mucosa. Findings of this study suggest the efficacy of cepharanthine is prophylactic and restorative against experimental OME.