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People with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other breathing disorders need fast relief when their airways tighten up. Unfortunately, the most commonly used medication has obnoxious side effects. But scientists recently discovered that a bitter taste can be a more effective treatment—and now they know why. The work is published in PLoS Biology.
患有哮喘、慢性阻碍性肺病以及其它呼吸不畅的病人需要迅速缓和收缩的气道。不幸的是，最常用的药物有着令人讨厌的副作用。不过，近来科学家发现苦味是治疗效果更好的药物。现在科学家们也发现了其中的原因。这项研究发表在《公共科学图书馆·生物学》上。
When an asthma attack hits, the airway shrinks and makes breathing difficult. To keep air flowing, the sufferer must take medication to relax the passage's muscles and open it back up. But a couple years ago, researchers discovered airways contain bitter taste receptors like the ones on the tongue. After exposure to bitter substances, the receptors can expand the airway more quickly and more effectively than the most commonly used treatment.
当哮喘发作时，气道萎缩，导致呼吸困难。为了保证呼吸，患者需要服用药物来舒缓气道上的肌肉，使之重新舒张。然而几年前，研究人员发现气道里包括跟舌头一样可以感受苦味的感受器。苦味感受器接触到苦味物质之后，能够迅速地扩张气道，且比最常用的药物更快，更有效。
Researchers examined airway tissue to learn why bitterness makes the muscles relax. During an asthma attack, calcium flows into the cells of the airway and contributes to muscle contraction. But bitter substances block the channels that allow calcium into cells, which relaxes the tightened tissue. And that's the opposite of a bitter pill.
研究人员检查气道组织后了解了为什么苦味能够让肌肉放松。原来哮喘发作时，钙流进气道细胞，于是导致肌肉收缩。但是苦味物质能够阻碍钙流入气道细胞，所以就能缓解拉紧的组织。这就是良药苦口利于病。
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