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Objective:Xiaoqinglong decoction (XQL) has been used in traditional Chinese medicine as a prescription for asthma treatment.We explored the effects of XQL on mucus hypersecretion and ciliophagy in the airways of mice in which asthma had been induced by ovalbumin (OVA).Methods:Thirty-six mice were sensitized by OVA injection (i.p.) on day-0 and day-14 and challenged with 1％ OVA on day 18-22.Then,they were divided into three groups:model,carbocysteine and XQL.From day-15 to day-22,the XQL group was administered XQL (10 g/kg,p.o.) 1 hour before each aerosol challenge with OVA.To evaluate the effect of XQL on mucus hypersecretion,AB-PAS staining,measurement of serum levels of interleukin (IL)-13,bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) analyses,ciliophagy analyses,as well as coexpression of Light Chain 3 (LC3) and acetylated α-tubulin by immunofluorescence staining were undertaken.Results:Treatment with XQL (10 g/kg) attenuated mucus secretion in the airways,and reduced the positive areas of AB-PAS staining in histopathologic lung tissues (P ＜.05).IL-13 expression in serum (P ＜.01),OVA-induced inflammatory changes,and the number of white blood cells (P ＜.01) in BALF samples were also reduced.However,the effect on mucus secretion was less apparent in the carbocysteine group compared with the XQL group.XQL treatment also improved the cilia length and elicited a substantial reduction in ciliophagy and LC3 expression in the tracheal epithelium.Conclusion:XQL can attenuate cilia shortening,aid the clearance function of ciliated epithelial cells,and reduce mucus production in an OVA-induced asthma model in mice.XQL can inhibit mucus hypersecretion and could be a new type of pharmacotherapy.