Abstract: Objective To investigate the effects and mechanism of zinc on the airway inflammation in asthmatic rats. Methods Animal models of asthma were established by OVA challenging, zinc-deficient and zinc-supplementary diet were given accordingly. Thirty-two SD rats were divided into four groups according to weight: zinc-deficient diet with OVA challenge group (group A), zinc-supplementary diet with OVA challenge group (group B), zinc-normal diet with OVA challenge group (group C) and zinc-normal diet with saline challenge group (group D). Twenty-four hours after asthma was induced, the right lungs were harvested for HE staining to observe histomorphological changes and the respective numbers of eosinophils, neutrophils and macrophage in the bronchial mucus were counted. The contents of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione pexoxidase (GPX) in lung homogenate were detected. Results Compared with group C, the numbers of eosinophils, neutrophils and macrophage, and the contents of SOD increased in group A, but decreased in group B significantly (P<0.05). At the same time, the contents of IFN-γ, SOD, GPX and the percentage of IFN-γ/IL-4 decreased in group A but increased in group B significantly (P<0.05), no significant difference was observed for IL-4. Conclusion Zinc may suppress airway inflammation in asthmatic rats through the regulation of Th1/Th2 balance and antioxidant.