Nebulized delivery of a Scutellaria baicalensis and Verbena officinalis extract-based formulation enhances pulmonary exposure for COPD therapy

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Objective Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, with limited clinical efficacy due to irreversible progression and adverse effects of current therapies. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), characterized by multi-component and multi-target synergism, offers a potential complementary strategy for complex respiratory diseases. Inhalation-based delivery further provides a targeted approach to improve pulmonary drug exposure. This study explores the therapeutic potential of Scutellaria baicalensis (BA) and Verbena officinalis (VE) in an inhalant via nebulizer for COPD treatment. Methods BA and VE extracts were formulated into an optimized inhalation nebulizer system (BA/VE-INH). The formulation was evaluated for aerosol performance and further characterized for pulmonary deposition and in vivo pharmacokinetics to verify lung-targeted delivery. Therapeutic efficacy was assessed using cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-stimulated A549 cells and a cigarette smoke plus lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced COPD mouse model, with evaluation of inflammatory response and disease-related pathological changes in vitro and in vivo . Results BA/VE improved cell viability, promoted cell migration, and decreased expression of inflammatory factors to achieve COPD therapy. BA/VE-INH was constructed and deposited in the lung as an aerosol state to achieve targeted drug delivery. Pulmonary administration enhanced drug retention time and local concentration and reduced drug clearance rate in the lung tissue. Compared to single-drug dosing, BA/VE-INH achieved better therapeutic outcomes by regulating oxidative stress, reducing inflammatory factor levels, and alleviating apoptosis. Conclusion BA/VE-INH enables efficient lung-targeted delivery and enhances therapeutic efficacy in COPD, supporting inhalation-based application of BA-VE combinations as a promising strategy for pulmonary disease intervention.

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