Cepharanthine Dry Powder Inhaler for the Treatment of Acute Lung Injury

The study explores the use of Cepharanthine (CEP) dry powder inhalers (DPIs) for treating acute lung injury (ALI) in rats, emphasizing its potential due to CEP's anti-inflammatory properties. CEP DPIs were prepared using a freeze-drying method, achieving effective lung deposition and meeting Chinese Pharmacopoeia standards. In the ALI rat model, CEP DPIs significantly reduced pulmonary edema, hemorrhage, and inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-6, and total protein), showing comparable effects to dexamethasone, a standard treatment. The study suggests that CEP DPIs could be a promising inhalable formulation for ALI treatment, offering direct drug delivery to the lungs and improved efficacy, although further research is needed to confirm dosage and efficacy in larger models or humans.