Inhibitory effects of Duchesnea chrysantha extract on ovalbumin-induced lung inflammation in a mouse model of asthma.
BACKGROUND
Duchesnea chrysantha (D. chrysantha) is a herb with anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and immune-enhancing properties.


OBJECTIVE
Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the lungs, and the hallmarks of the disease are increased inflammatory cell infiltration into the airways and poor respiratory function. Although there is the possibility that D. chrysantha may have an inhibitory effect on lung inflammation, the effects of D. chrysantha on asthma have not been fully investigated. In the present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory activity of D. chrysantha extract (Dc extract) on lung inflammation in a murine model of ovalbumin-induced asthma.


METHODS
Dc extract was obtained from dried and powdered whole plants of D. chrysantha using 80% ethanol. BALB/c mice induced by ovalbumin sensitization and nebulization were used as a mouse model of asthma. RT-PCR and ELISA were performed to measure mRNA and protein expression of cytokines. We examined the effects of Dc extract on leukocyte infiltration and mucus secretion using periodic acid-Schiff staining as well as hematoxylin and eosin staining.


RESULTS
Dc extract significantly inhibited leukocytosis and eosinophilia in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid (p<0.01). Dc extract significantly reduced the elevated infiltration of inflammatory cells (p<0.05) and inhibited the increased mucus secretion, despite the absence of significant value. Although Dc extract weakly inhibited the mRNA expression of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and eotaxin, it strongly inhibited the protein expression of IL-5 (p<0.05) and eotaxin (p<0.01) in BAL fluid. Ovalbumin-specific IgE levels in the serum and BAL fluid were blocked by Dc extract (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest the possibility that Dc extract can exert suppressive effects on asthma and may provide evidence that Dc extract is a useful agent for the treatment of allergic airway disease.
Yang
Eun Ju
EJ
Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, School of Medicine, Eulji University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
Lee
Ji-Sook
JS
Yun
Chi-Young
CY
Kim
Joo-Hwan
JH
Kim
Jin-Sook
JS
Kim
Dong-Hee
DH
Kim
In Sik
IS
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; D016207:Cytokines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D007964:Leukocytosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010047:Ovalbumin; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D027824:Rosaceae / Q000737:chemistry*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D010936:Plant Extracts; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D010047:Ovalbumin