title: Pharmacology and immunological actions of a herbal medicine ASHMI on allergic asthma.
abstract: Allergic asthma is a chronic and progressive inflammatory disease for which there is no satisfactory treatment. Studies reported tolerability and efficacy of an anti-asthma herbal medicine intervention (ASHMI) for asthma patients, developed from traditional Chinese medicine. To investigate the pharmacological actions of ASHMI on early- and late-phase airway responses (EAR and LAR), Ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized mice received 6 weeks of ASHMI treatment beginning 24 h following the first intratracheal OVA challenge. EAR were determined 30 min following the fourth challenge and LAR 48 h following the last challenge. ASHMI effects on cytokine secretion, murine tracheal ring contraction and human bronchial smooth muscle cell prostaglandin (PG) production were also determined.ASHMI abolished EAR, which was associated with significantly reduced histamine, leukotriene C4, and OVA-specific IgE levels, as well as LAR, which was associated with significantly reduced bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) eosinophils, decreased airway remodeling, and lower Th2 cytokine levels in BALF and splenocyte cultures. Furthermore, ASHMI inhibited contraction of murine tracheal rings and increased production of the potent smooth muscle relaxer PGI(2). ASHMI abrogation of allergic airway responses is associated with broad effects on asthma pathological mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Tengfei
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Kamal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Srivastava
authors.forename: Ming-Chun
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Busse
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Birmingham
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goldfarb
authors.forename: Xiu-Min
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D056151:Airway Remodeling; D000818:Animals; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D006632:Histamine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D017997:Leukotriene C4 / Q000097:blood; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D015394:Molecular Structure; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000187:drug effects; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000494:pharmacology; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000378:metabolism; D014132:Trachea / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D011453:Prostaglandins; D017997:Leukotriene C4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D006632:Histamine; D010047:Ovalbumin