Application and prospect of medicinal plants combined with aerosol inhalation in the treatment of pulmonary diseases

Pulmonary disease has long been a major problem in the world medical community. Common drugs for the treatment of pulmonary diseases, such as albuterol and pirfenidone, have many side effects in clinical use. Therefore, it is of great significance to find new safe drugs to solve the clinical disadvantages of Western medicine. At present, increasing numbers of medicinal plant extracts have been testified to be effective in clinical trials of pulmonary diseases. The unique physiological structure of the lung provides convenience for aerosol inhalation therapy, and avoids adverse reactions caused by oral and injection administration. This review article aims to introduce the application of some medicinal plants in the treatment of lung diseases. The combination of medicinal plants and aerosol inhalation drug delivery system can improve the targeting, safety and effectiveness of drugs. With the development of technology and experience accumulation, aerosol inhalation treatment of medicinal plants brings hope for the treatment of pulmonary diseases.