Bambusae Caulis in Taeniam extract reduces ovalbumin-induced airway inflammation and T helper 2 responses in mice.

Bambusae Caulis in Taeniam (BC) was known as traditional herbal medicine with anti-inflammatory property in the Orient. Allergic asthma is inflammatory disease of airways associated with enhanced T helper (Th) 2 lymphocytes responses to allergens, leading to eosinophilic infiltration and elevated serum IgE levels. Although there were some studies that BC extract had an anti-inflammatory property, there was no study on asthma. In present study, we investigated the suitability of BC extract as a therapeutic candidate in the treatment of allergic airway disease in ovalbumin-induced asthma model. Balb/C mice (female, 6 weeks old) were treated by ovalbumin sensitization and nebulization, and used as asthma model. The number of eosinophil in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and the degree of eosinophila were investigated by hematoxylin and eosin stain and the infiltration of inflammatory cells into lung tissues was examined by staining by hematoxylin and eosin solution. The levels of interleukin (IL)-4 in BAL fluid, immunoglobulin E (IgE) in serum, interferon (IFN)-gamma and IL-4 production in splenocyte culture from Balb/C mice (not treated, 6 weeks old) that incubated with or without BC extract for 48 h were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The level of eosinophils was decreased by treatment of the animals with BC extract (40 mg/kg) and correspondingly, a significantly lowered degree of eosinophila was also reported (p<0.01). In lung tissue, BC extract reduced the increased immune cell infiltration induced by OVA (p<0.05). Furthermore, the levels of IL-4 and IgE in BAL fluid or serum up-regulated by OVA was decreased by BC extract. Finally, IFN-gamma production was significantly increased (p<0.01), while IL-4 production significantly decreased (p<0.01), after treatment of the culture supernatants of splenocytes with BC extract. These results indicated that BC extract reduces OVA-induced airway inflammation and Th 2 response in mice, suggesting that BC extract can be a therapeutic candidate for allergic airway disease, including asthma.

Ra J ，Lee S ，Kim HJ ，Jang YP ，Ahn H ，Kim J ... -  《-》

Inhibitory effects of Duchesnea chrysantha extract on ovalbumin-induced lung inflammation in a mouse model of asthma.

Yang EJ ，Lee JS ，Yun CY ，Kim JH ，Kim JS ，Kim DH ，Kim IS ... -  《JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY》

4-1 BB stimulation inhibits allergen-specific immunoglobulin E production and airway hyper-reactivity but partially suppresses bronchial eosinophilic inflammation in a mouse asthma model.

Cho YS ，Kwon B ，Lee TH ，Kim TB ，Moon KA ，La S ，Lee J ，Lee SD ，Oh YM ，Moon HB ... -  《CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY》

Petasites extract Ze 339 (PET) inhibits allergen-induced Th2 responses, airway inflammation and airway hyperreactivity in mice.

The herbal Petasites hybridus (butterbur) extract (Ze 339, PET) is known to have leukotriene inhibiting properties, and therefore might inhibit allergic diseases. The effect of PET was investigated in ovalbumin (OVA) immunized BALB/c mice given intranasally together with antigen challenge in the murine model of allergic airway disease (asthma) with the analysis of the inflammatory and immune parameters in the lung. PET given with the antigen challenge inhibited the allergic response. PET inhibited airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and eosinophil recruitment into the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid upon allergen challenge, but had no effect in the saline control mice. Eosinophil recruitment was further assessed in the lung by eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) activity at a concentration of 100 microg PET. Microscopic investigations revealed less inflammation, eosinophil recruitment and mucus hyperproduction in the lung with 100 microg PET. Diminution of AHR and inflammation was associated with reduced IL-4, IL-5 and RANTES production in the BAL fluid with 30 microg PET, while OVA specific IgE and eotaxin serum levels remained unchanged. PET, which has been reported to inhibit leukotriene activity, reduced allergic airway inflammation and AHR by inhibiting the production of the Th2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-5, and RANTES.

Brattström A ，Schapowal A ，Maillet I ，Schnyder B ，Ryffel B ，Moser R ... -  《-》

Piperine inhibits eosinophil infiltration and airway hyperresponsiveness by suppressing T cell activity and Th2 cytokine production in the ovalbumin-induced asthma model.

Kim SH ，Lee YC 《JOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY》