Abstract: Objective To explore the protective effects and mechanism of anthocyanin-rich extract from black rice（AEBR）in asthmatic mice. Methods Ovalbumin(OVA) was injected intraperitoneally and inhaled to produce the asthmatic model. Thirty two mice were randomly divided into four groups：control group, asthma group and AEBR groups of high and low dose. The concentrations of IL-4、IL-5、IL-13 and IFN-γ in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) were respectively measured by ELISA. The phosphor-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases(MAPK) in lung tissues was measured by Western blotting. The number of inflammatory cells in BALF and lung histropathological changes were observed Results In asthmatic group，the number of inflammatory cells and the concentrations of IL-4、IL-5、IL-13 in BALF and phosphor-p38 MAPK in lung tissue were higher, but IFN-γ was lower than those in control mouse (EM>P/EM> <0.05). In AEBR group, the number of inflammatory cells, the concentrations of IL-4、IL-5、IL-13 in BALF and phosphor-p38 MAPK in lung tissues were higher, but IFN-γ was lower than those in normal control mice(EM>P/EM> <0.05), and histropathology damage was alleviated significantly. The efficacies in the AEBR groups of high and low dose were similar and, no significant difference was observed among them. Conclusion p38 M

Key words: p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases, Asthma, Airway inflammation, Cytokine, Anthocyanin-rich extract from black rice, ELISA, Mouse