Objective: To investigate the efficacy of Dongbing Xiazhi Fang (DXF) on asthmatic guinea pigs through acupoint-application

and its effect on intestinal flora of asthmatic guinea pigs. Method: Seventy five guinea pigs were randomly divided into blank control group

asthmatic model group

positive control group

acupoint-application group and non-acupoint-application group (n=15). The asthmatic model of guinea pigs was established through ovalbumin injection and aerosol inhalation

except for the blank control group. The hematoxylin-eosin(HE) and Masson staining pathologic sections of lung tissue in asthma were observed. The total genomic DNA was extracted from guinea pig feces

and the 16 S rRNA V4 variable region gene was amplified by PCR and sequenced by Illumina HiSeq. The gene sequences with the similarity of more than 97% were clustered

and analyzed by bioinformatics. Result: Compared with the asthmatic model group

the other groups of guinea pigs showed reduced inflammatory cells

bronchoconstriction

and alleviated airway epithelial hyperplasia and good recovery and various degrees of reduced collagen fiber deposition. The positive group and the acupoint-application group showed a more obvious degree of reduction

and the therapeutic effect of the acupoint-application group was better than that of the non-acupoint-application group. The analysis of operational taxonomic unit (OTU) and its abundance indicated that the proportion of various bacteria changed after the onset of asthma. The diversity of intestinal flora of guinea pigs significantly increased after being treated with DXF and Prevotella. The proportion of Bacteroides in the positive control group and other administration groups were less than that in the asthmatic model group

while the proportion of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes were more than that in the asthmatic model group. Conclusion: DXF has an effect in treating asthma through transdermal acupoint-application

and can alleviate asthma symptoms

regulate the composition of intestinal flora in asthmatic guinea pigs. The results suggest that the prescription have the efficacy on asthma by affecting the body immunity and regulating the intestinal flora

and provide a theoretical basis for studying the treatment mechanism of asthma.