A water extract of Samchulkunbi-tang attenuates airway inflammation by inhibiting inos and MMP-9 activities in an ovalbumin-induced murine asthma model

• Main Authors: Lee Mee Young (Author), Shin In Sik (Author), Lim Hye Sun (Author), Shin Hyeun Kyoo (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: BMC, 2012-12-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.1186/1472-6882-12-257; 1472-6882
• Keywords: Samchulkunbi-tang; Asthma; Cytokines; iNOS; MMP-9; Inflammation; Other systems of medicine; RZ201-999
• Source: BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Vol 12, Iss 1, p 257 (2012)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In this study, we investigated the effect of Samchulkunbi-tang water extract (SCTE) in an established mouse model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma. The effects of SCTE on the production of Th1 and Th2 cytokines, eotaxin, and total and OVA-specific immunoglobulin E, inducible nitric oxide synthase expression, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 activity were measured.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Mice were sensitized on days 0 and 14 with an intraperitoneal injection of 20 μg ovalbumin (OVA) emulsified in 2 mg aluminum hydroxide in 200 μL PBS buffer. On days 21, 22, and 23, mice received an airway exposure to OVA (1%, w/v, in PBS) for 1 h. SCTE was administered orally to mice at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg per day from days 18 to 23.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>SCTE reduced the number of inflammatory cells, cytokines, and chemokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids and iNOS expression and MMP-9 activity in mouse lung tissue. Histological studies using hematoxylin & eosin and periodic acid-schiff staining showed that SCTE substantially inhibited OVA-induced inflammatory cell infiltration in lung tissue and goblet cell hyperplasia in the airway. SCTE also reduced IL-4 and IL-13 expression in concanavalin-A-stimulated splenocytes. These results were similar to those obtained with montelukast as a positive control.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Collectively, these results suggest that SCTE may be an effective oral treatment for allergic airway inflammation by virtue of its anti-inflammatory activity.</p>