title: Anti-inflammatory effects of Lafoensia pacari and ellagic acid in a murine model of asthma.
abstract: We have shown that the ethanolic extract of Lafoensia pacari inhibits eosinophilic inflammation induced by Toxocara canis infection, and that ellagic acid is the secondary metabolite responsible for the anti-eosinophilic activity seen in a model of beta-glucan peritonitis. In the present study, we investigated the preventive and curative effects of L. pacari extract and ellagic acid on allergic lung inflammation using a murine model of ovalbumin-induced asthma. In bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, preventive (22-day) treatment with L. pacari (200 mg/kg) and ellagic acid (10 mg/kg) inhibited neutrophil counts (by 75% and 57%) and eosinophil counts (by 78% and 68%). L. pacari reduced IL-4 and IL-13 levels (by 67% and 73%), whereas ellagic acid reduced IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 (by 67%, 88% and 85%). To investigate curative anti-inflammatory effects, we treated mice daily with ellagic acid (0.1, 1, or 10 mg/kg), also treating selected mice with L. pacari (200 mg/kg) from day 18 to day 22. The highest ellagic acid dose reduced neutrophil and eosinophil numbers (by 59% and 82%), inhibited IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 (by 62%, 61%, and 49%). Neither L. pacari nor ellagic acid suppressed ovalbumin-induced airway hyperresponsiveness or cysteinyl leukotriene synthesis in lung homogenates. In mice treated with ellagic acid (10 mg/kg) or L. pacari (200 mg/kg) at 10 min after the second ovalbumin challenge, eosinophil numbers were 53% and 69% lower, respectively. Cytokine levels were unaffected by this treatment. L. pacari and ellagic acid are effective eosinophilic inflammation suppressors, suggesting a potential for treating allergies.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Campus Universitário Trindade, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Florianópolis, SC, 88049-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandre P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Rogerio
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fontanari
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Borducchi
authors.forename: Alexandre C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: Momtchilo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Edson G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Deijanira A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Albuquerque
authors.forename: Lúcia H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Faccioli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004610:Ellagic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D007378:Interleukins / Q000378:metabolism; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D029561:Lythraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010047:Ovalbumin; D024301:Plant Bark; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007378:Interleukins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D004610:Ellagic Acid; D010047:Ovalbumin