Epimedin C attenuates airway inflammation and remodeling in Asthma by intervening M2 macrophage polarization via modulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

Zewen Zhang, Shoubao Cao, Ziwen Qin, Tingting Liu, Qin He, Gen Li, Chuanjun Huang, Yujuan Chen, Yunshan Wang

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Article in Scientific reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Zewen ZhangDepartment of Radiology, Jinan Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan City, 250013, Shandong Province, China.

Shoubao CaoDepartment of Internal Medicine, Yangxin County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yangxin County, 251800, Binzhou City, Shandong Province, China.

Ziwen QinThe First Clinical Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan City, 250014, Shandong Province, China.

Tingting LiuDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan City, 250021, Shandong Province, China.

Qin HeDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Kashi area, Kashi City, 844000, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China.

Gen LiDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Kashi area, Kashi City, 844000, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China.

Chuanjun HuangDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan City, 250021, Shandong Province, China.

Yujuan Chen *Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 250355, No. 4655, University Road, University Science Park, Changqing District, Jinan City, 250355, Shandong Province, China. chenyujuan66@163.com.

Yunshan Wang *Medical Experimental Diagnosis Center, Jinan Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, 250013, No. 105 Jiefang Road, Jinan City, 250013, Shandong Province, China. sdjnwys@163.com.

Funding

National Nature Science Foundation of China grant No's. 82405322Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province Youth Program of China NO. ZR2023QH089

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

In bronchial asthma, M2 macrophage polarization and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway activation are critically implicated in airway inflammation and remodeling. This study employed an OVA-induced asthmatic mouse model to evaluate the therapeutic effect of Epimedin C, a major flavonoid from Herba Epimedii with reported anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory effects. Pulmonary function tests, histological staining, ELISA, RT-qPCR, and western blotting were utilized to assess airway responsiveness, inflammation, and remodeling. The mechanisms involving the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and macrophage polarization were further investigated via flow cytometry and immunofluorescence. Results showed that Epimedin C significantly improved lung function and alleviated pathological changes. These therapeutic effects were accompanied by suppression of PI3K/Akt/mTOR phosphorylation and inhibition of M2 polarization. Further mechanistic investigation confirmed that M2 polarization was dependent on PI3K/Akt/mTOR activation. Inhibiting this pathway can reverse M2 hyperpolarization and reduce pro-inflammatory mediator production. In conclusion, Epimedin C may alleviate asthma by suppressing M2 macrophage polarization through inhibition of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. These findings may offer a novel understanding of Epimedin C treatment and furnish evidence for an alternative therapeutic approach to asthma.

Indexed as

Airway RemodelingAsthmaFlavonoidsMacrophagesPhosphatidylinositol 3-KinasesProto-Oncogene Proteins c-aktSignal TransductionTOR Serine-Threonine KinasesAnimalsDisease Models, AnimalInflammationMacrophage ActivationMiceMice, Inbred BALB COvalbuminepimedin CFlavonoidsmTOR protein, mouseOvalbuminPhosphatidylinositol 3-KinasesProto-Oncogene Proteins c-aktTOR Serine-Threonine Kinasesairway inflammationairway remodelingasthmaEpimedin CM2 macrophagesmacrophage polarizationPI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway

Identifiers

PMID41840067

DOI10.1038/s41598-026-42160-4

PMCPMC13121749

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.