Comparative Studies on Volatile Oil Components Derived from Integrated Processing Technology of Origin and Traditional Cutting Processing Technology of Moslae Herba and Their Effects on Rats With Lung-Yin Deficiency

This study aimed to examine the components of the volatile oil derived from the integration processing technology of origin (IPTO) of Moslae Herba (MH) and their effects on the treatment of rats with Lung-Yin deficiency. IPTO was compared with the traditional cutting processing technology (TCPT) to provide a feasible basis. The chemical constituents of the volatile oil were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The Lung-Yin deficiency model was established by subjecting the animals to smoke and administering them with thyroid tablet suspension. The rats were randomly divided into six groups: control, model, Tween-80, positive, IPTO, and TCPT. After 30 days of intragastric administration, the macroscopic signs of rats and pathological morphology of the lung tissues were observed by the hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) staining method. The positive expression of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) was observed by an immunohistochemical method. The levels of cholesterol (CHO), albumin (ALB), total protein (TP), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) were detected in the serum of rats. A total of 42 and 37 components were identified from the volatile oils of IPTO and TCPT, respectively. Among them, the contents of carvacrol and thymol were higher in IPTO. The volatile oil of MH derived from IPTO and TCPT could improve the general signs and autonomous activities of the rats with Lung-Yin deficiency; increase the contents of cGMP, TP, and ALB; and decrease the anal temperature of the rats, the contents of IL-1β, CHO, and BUN in serum, the ratio of cAMP to cGMP, and the average optical density of TNF-α in their lung tissues. The findings indicated that IPTO was more efficient than TCPT. Its therapeutic effect might be associated with the change in TNF-α expression; the increase in cGMP, TP, and ALB contents; and the decrease in IL-1β, CHO, and BUN levels, laying the foundation for the clinical development and application of MH.