Anti-inflammatory and anti-asthmatic effects of Viola mandshurica W. Becker (VM) ethanolic (EtOH) extract on airway inflammation in a mouse model of allergic asthma.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the efficacy of Viola mandshurica W. Becker (VM) ethanolic (EtOH) extract in the treatment of bronchial asthma in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthmatic BALB/c mouse model.


METHODS
Female BALB/c mice were sensitized with intraperitoneal (i.p.) ovalbumin (OVA) on days 0 and 14, and were next given intranasal OVA on days 28-30. Randomized treatment groups of sensitized mice received VM EtOH extract, dexamethasone, or placebo, orally, from days 28 to 30.


RESULTS
VM EtOH extract significantly inhibited increases in total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and cytokines IL-4 and IL-13 levels in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and also effectively suppressed airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), eosinophilia, and mucus hypersecretion, in mice with OVA-induced asthma.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that VM EtOH extract and allied extracts could be useful herbal medicines for asthma treatment, and that VM may also be a valuable lead material for anti-asthma drug development.
Immune Modulator Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, PO Box 115, Yusung, Daejeon 305-600, Republic of Korea.
Mee-Young
MY
Lee
Ji-Eun
JE
Yuk
Ok-Kyoung
OK
Kwon
Hui-Seong
HS
Kim
Sei-Ryang
SR
Oh
Hyeong-Kyu
HK
Lee
Kyung-Seop
KS
Ahn
D000818:Animals; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001980:Bronchi / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000276:immunology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000276:immunology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D007378:Interleukins / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D007723:Korea; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009093:Mucus / Q000187:drug effects; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology / Q000633:toxicity; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011897:Random Allocation; D032413:Viola / Q000737:chemistry*
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D007378:Interleukins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D000431:Ethanol; D010047:Ovalbumin