YG-1 Extract Improves Acute Pulmonary Inflammation by Inducing Bronchodilation and Inhibiting Inflammatory Cytokines

YG-1 extract used in this study is a mixture of Lonicera japonica, Arctic Fructus, and Scutellariae Radix. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of YG-1 extract on bronchodilatation (ex vivo) and acute bronchial and pulmonary inflammation relief (in vivo). Ex vivo: The bronchodilation reaction was confirmed by treatment with YG-1 concentration-accumulation (0.01, 0.03, 0.1, 0.3, and 1 mg/mL) in the bronchial tissue ring pre-contracted by acetylcholine (10 μM). As a result, YG-1 extract is considered to affect bronchodilation by increased cyclic adenosine monophosphate, cAMP) levels through the β2-adrenergic receptor. In vivo: experiments were performed in C57BL/6 mice were divided into the following groups: control group; PM2.5 (fine particulate matter)-exposed group (PM2.5, 200 μg/kg/mL saline); and PM2.5-exposed + YG-1 extract (200 mg/kg/day) group. The PM2.5 (200 μg/kg/mL saline) was exposed for 1 h for 5 days using an ultrasonic nebulizer aerosol chamber to instill fine dust in the bronchi and lungs, thereby inducing acute lung and bronchial inflammation. From two days before PM2.5 exposure, YG-1 extract (200 mg/kg/day) was administered orally for 7 days. The PM2.5 exposure was involved in airway remodeling and inflammation, suggesting that YG-1 treatment improves acute bronchial and pulmonary inflammation by inhibiting the inflammatory cytokines (NLRP3/caspase-1 pathway). The application of YG-1 extract with broncho-dilating effect to acute bronchial and pulmonary inflammation animal models has great significance in developing therapeutic agents for respiratory diseases. Therefore, these results can provide essential data for the development of novel respiratory symptom relievers. Our study provides strong evidence that YG-1 extracts reduce the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and the incidence of non-specific lung diseases and improve bronchial and lung function.