title: Dichotomous effect of a traditional Japanese medicine, bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang on allergic asthma in mice.
abstract: To determine the potentiality of prophylactic and/or therapeutic approaches using a traditional herbal medicine, Bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang (Japanese name: Hochu-ekki-to, HOT), for the control of allergic disease, we examined the effects of oral administration of HOT on a murine model of asthma allergic responses. When oral administration of HOT was begun at the induction phase immediately after OVA sensitization, eosinophilia and Th2-type cytokine production in the airway were reduced in OVA-sensitized mice following OVA inhalation. The serum levels of OVA-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)E and IgG1 were significantly decreased, whereas the level of OVA-specific IgG2a was increased. Interleukin (IL)-4 production by spleen T cells in response to OVA was significantly suppressed, while Interferon (IFN)-gamma production was increased in mice treated with HOT in the induction phase. On the other hand, HOT given in the eliciting phase induced a predominant Th2 response with increased IgE production in OVA-sensitized mice following OVA inhalation. These results suggest that the oral administration of HOT dichotomously modulates allergic inflammation in a murine model for asthma, thus offering a different approach for the treatment of allergic disorders.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Host Defense and Germfree Life, Research Institute for Disease Mechanism and Control, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ishimitsu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawauchi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawakita
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoshikai
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; C402943:bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D010047:Ovalbumin