{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,19]],"date-time":"2026-10-19T17:56:58Z","timestamp":1792432618777,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":37,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,18]],"date-time":"2025-07-18T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1752796800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001809","name":"National Natural Science Foundation of China","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["82204249"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["82204249"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001809","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Pharmaceuticals"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a prevalent allergic disorder characterized by a complex pathogenesis. Drawing on traditional Chinese medicine theory and contemporary pharmacological principles, this study developed an inhalation-based herbal formulation, ZHW, to explore a novel non-invasive therapeutic approach. Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effects of ZHW on AR and elucidate its underlying mechanisms and potential targets through an integrated analysis of network pharmacology and proteomics. Materials and Methods: The volatile components of ZHW were analyzed by gas chromatography\u2013mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The mouse model of AR was induced by OVA sensitization. The therapeutic efficacy of ZHW was assessed based on nasal symptom scores, histopathological examination, and inflammatory cytokine levels. Furthermore, the underlying mechanisms and potential targets of ZHW were investigated through integrated network pharmacology and proteomics analyses. Results: GC-MS analysis identified 39 bioactive compounds in ZHW. Inhalation treatment with ZHW demonstrated significant anti-allergic effects in OVA-sensitized mice, as evidenced by (1) reduced sneezing frequency and nasal rubbing behaviors; (2) decreased serum levels of IL-4, histamine, and OVA-specific IgE; (3) attenuated IL-4 concentrations in both nasal lavage fluid and lung tissue; (4) diminished nasal mucosal thickening; and (5) suppression of inflammatory cell infiltration. Integrated network pharmacology and proteomics analyses indicated that ZHW\u2019s therapeutic effects were mediated through the modulation of multiple pathways, including the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, the B cell receptor signaling pathway, oxidative phosphorylation, and the Fc\u03b5RI signaling pathway. Key molecular targets involved Rac1, MAPK1, and SYK. Molecular docking simulations revealed strong binding affinities between ZHW\u2019s primary bioactive constituents (linalool, levomenthol, linoleic acid, Linoelaidic acid, and n-Valeric acid cis-3-hexenyl ester) and these target proteins. Conclusions: The herbal formulation ZHW demonstrates significant efficacy in alleviating allergic rhinitis symptoms through multi-target modulation of key signaling pathways, including PI3K-Akt- and Fc\u03b5RI-mediated inflammatory responses. These findings substantiate ZHW\u2019s therapeutic potential as a novel, non-invasive treatment for AR and provide a strong basis for the development of new AR therapies. Future clinical development will require systematic safety evaluation to ensure optimal therapeutic outcomes.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ph18071059","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,18]],"date-time":"2025-07-18T13:33:27Z","timestamp":1752845607000},"page":"1059","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Therapeutic Effects and Mechanisms of the Inhaled Traditional Chinese Medicine Compound ZHW on Allergic Rhinitis"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"18","author":[{"given":"Yujin","family":"Shen","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Biology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Xi","family":"Ma","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Biology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zhenzhen","family":"Du","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Biology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5612-5724","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yang","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Biology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zhinan","family":"Mei","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Biology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ling","family":"Zhao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Biology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,18]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3383","DOI":"10.1111\/all.15044","article-title":"Advances and highlights in allergic rhinitis","volume":"76","author":"Zhang","year":"2021","journal-title":"Allergy"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"234","DOI":"10.1111\/all.13941","article-title":"Prevalence and risk factors for allergic rhinitis in adults and children living in different grassland regions of Inner Mongolia","volume":"75","author":"Ma","year":"2020","journal-title":"Allergy"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3309","DOI":"10.1111\/all.15454","article-title":"Update on pathomechanisms and treatments in allergic rhinitis","volume":"77","author":"Zhang","year":"2022","journal-title":"Allergy"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3069","DOI":"10.1111\/all.14586","article-title":"Advances and novel developments in allergic rhinitis","volume":"75","author":"Meng","year":"2020","journal-title":"Allergy"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"688","DOI":"10.1111\/apm.12984","article-title":"Ameliorative effect of acetylshikonin on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic rhinitis in mice through the inhibition of Th2 cytokine production and mast cell histamine release","volume":"127","author":"Fan","year":"2019","journal-title":"APMIS"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"719","DOI":"10.1002\/JLB.3A0718-287RR","article-title":"Interleukin-5 induces apoptotic defects in CD4+ T cells of patients with allergic rhinitis","volume":"105","author":"Luo","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. 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