Sam So Eum, a herb extract, as the remedy for allergen-induced asthma in mice.
We studied administering Sam So Eum (SSE) as a herbal medicine to treat asthma in mice and we discussed the mechanism of restoring the immuno-modulating cytokines such as IL-10 and IFN-gamma. The mice treated with SSE did not show any significant variation in their body weight and they looked very similar to the controlled ones. The SSE-treated mice showed reduced levels of airway responsiveness to methacholine, and these levels were initially elevated by the induction of asthma compared to the control group. The SSE elevated production level of IFN-gamma, which was down-regulated upon induction of asthma. This result implies that SSE can change the Th1/Th2 ratio through Th1-skewing reactions, and that SSE can decrease airway hyperresponsiveness by changing the Th1/Th2 ratio. The treatment with SSE also restored the IL-10 level to that of the naive condition. This means that SSE reduced the airway inflammation through this pathway. The ovalbumin (OVA)-specific antibody (total Ig) production in the serum was also decreased upon SSE treatment. Prednisolone (PD) was used as positive control. The effectiveness of SSE was almost the same as that of PD. These results suggest the possibility of using SSE for the treatment of patients with asthma, and its therapeutic efficacy involves restoring the IFN-gamma and IL-10 levels.
Cho
Su Jin
SJ
Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Kim
Hyung Woo
HW
Kim
Bu-Yeo
BY
Cho
Su In
SI
D000485:Allergens / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D016085:Bronchoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood; D016210:Methacholine Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010991:Plethysmography
D000485:Allergens; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D000906:Antibodies; D016085:Bronchoconstrictor Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D010936:Plant Extracts; C532497:sam so eum; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D010047:Ovalbumin