Wubao capsule restores Th17/Treg balance in asthma by inhibiting the EGFR–PI3K–AKT pathway

Wubao capsule (WBC) possesses bleeding and relieving pain, with favourable clinical efficacy in asthma. This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms of WBC in treating asthma. A total of 37 compounds were characterised in WBC using HPLC-Q-TOF-MS. WBC effectively alleviated pathological damage and inflammatory cell infiltration in the asthma model. Moreover, it decreased Th17 cells (CD4+IL-17A+) and the levels of IL-1β, IL-17, and IL-23 in PBMC, and increased Treg cells (CD4+CD25+Foxp3+) and IL-10 level. WBC effectively inhibited the EGFR–PI3K–AKT pathway. The efficacy of WBC exhibited a dose-dependent pattern and was comparable to that of Dexamethasone. WBC was found to contain 86 effective ingredients and 204 targets, including 66 targets related to asthma. Fourteen targets were associated with the EGFR–PI3K–AKT pathway. In conclusion, WBC ameliorated pathological damage and inflammatory cell infiltration in asthma and helped restore Th17/Treg homeostasis by inhibiting the EGFR–PI3K–AKT pathway.