Butterbur, a herbal remedy, confers complementary anti-inflammatory activity in asthmatic patients receiving inhaled corticosteroids.
BACKGROUND
The effects of butterbur (BB), a herbal remedy, as add-on therapy to inhaled corticosteroids in patients with atopic asthma is currently unknown.


OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the effects of BB, given as add-on therapy to asthmatic patients maintained on inhaled corticosteroids, assessing adenosine monophosphate (AMP) bronchoprovocation (primary outcome variable) along with other surrogate inflammatory markers such as exhaled nitric oxide, serum eosinophil cationic protein and peripheral blood eosinophil count.


METHODS
Sixteen atopic asthmatic patients with mean (standard error of mean) forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) of 78 (4)% predicted, maintained on their constant dose of inhaled corticosteroids throughout the study, received twice daily for 1 week either BB 25 mg or placebo (PL), in a double-blind, cross-over fashion, with a 1-week washout period prior to each randomized treatment. Measurements were made at baselines prior to each randomized treatment and following the randomized treatment period.


RESULTS
Baseline values for the primary and secondary outcomes were not significantly different prior to BB and PL. AMP provocative concentration causing a 20% reduction from baseline FEV1 (PC20) as doubling dilution change from baseline, significantly improved (P<0.05) with BB, 0.6 (0.2), compared with PL, -0.1 (0.3); a 0.7 doubling dilution difference. Exhaled nitric oxide as change from baseline was significantly reduced (P<0.05) with BB, -1.2 (0.8) p.p.b., compared with PL, 0.5 (0.4) p.p.b. Both serum eosinophil cationic protein and peripheral blood eosinophil count as change from baseline were also significantly suppressed (P<0.05) with BB, -3.9 (3.3) microg/L, -31 (28)x106/L compared with PL, 3.3 (2.5) microg/L, 38 (16)x106/L, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Chronic dosing with BB conferred complementary anti-inflammatory activity in atopic asthmatic patients maintained on inhaled corticosteroids. Further studies are now required to assess the potential role for BB as either monotherapy in milder patients or add-on therapy in more severe asthmatics.
Lee
D K C
DK
Asthma & Allergy Research Group, Ninewells Hospital & Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, UK.
Haggart
K
K
Robb
F M
FM
Lipworth
B J
BJ
D000249:Adenosine Monophosphate; D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D001944:Breath Tests; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis; D036901:Petasites; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*
D015415:Biomarkers; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000249:Adenosine Monophosphate