【】Objective: To explore the mechanism of moxibustion and moxa smoke on airway inflammation in asthmatic rats based on the p38 MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, dexamethasone group, moxibustion group, smokeless moxibustion group, moxa smoke inhalation group, and cigarette smoke inhalation group. The asthmatic rat model was established by ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization and challenge. After successful modeling, rats in the dexamethasone group received intraperitoneal injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphate solution. Rats in the moxibustion group were treated with moxibustion at bilateral Feishu (BL13), Dazhui (GV14), and bilateral Fengmen (BL12) acupoints for 30 min. The treatment method and course of the smokeless moxibustion group were identical to those of the moxibustion group. All interventions were performed once daily for 14 consecutive days. Rats in the model group and normal group received no intervention.Pathological changes of rat lung tissues were observed. The levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and iNOS in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The activity of catalase (CAT) and the contents of H2O2 and NO in lung tissues were measured by colorimetry. The expression levels of p-p38 MAPK, p38 MAPK, p-IκBα, IκBα, p-NF-κB p65 and NF-κB p65 proteins in lung tissues were determined by immunohistochemistry. The mRNA expression levels of p38 MAPK, IκBα and NF-κB p65 in lung tissues were detected by quantitative real-time fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results:Compared with the model group, the pathological morphology of lung tissues was alleviated to varying degrees in the dexamethasone group, moxibustion group and smokeless moxibustion group. The levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and iNOS in BALF were significantly decreased (P<0.01); the contents of H2O2 and NO in lung tissues were markedly reduced, while CAT activity was significantly increased (P<0.01). The protein expression levels of p-p38 MAPK, p38 MAPK, p-IκBα, IκBα, p-NF-κB p65 and NF-κB p65 in lung tissues were significantly down-regulated (P<0.01), whereas the protein expression of IκBα was significantly up-regulated (P<0.01). The mRNA expression levels of p38 MAPK and NF-κB p65 in lung tissues were significantly decreased, and the mRNA expression of IκBα was significantly increased.There were no statistically significant differences in the above indexes between the moxibustion group, smokeless moxibustion group and dexamethasone group (P>0.05). Statistically significant differences in the above indexes were found between the moxibustion group and the smokeless moxibustion group (P<0.05), suggesting that moxa smoke plays an indispensable role in moxibustion.