Protective effects of Mentha haplocalyx ethanol extract (MH) in a mouse model of allergic asthma.
Mentha haplocalyx Briq., a commonly used herb in traditional Oriental medicine, has a variety of known pharmacological properties. However, neither the protective effects of Mentha haplocalyx ethanol extract (MH) against inflammation of the airway in an asthmatic model nor the mechanisms involved, have previously been reported. In the present study, an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced mouse model of allergic asthma was used to investigate whether MH was effective against the disease through regulation of airway inflammation. The MH treatment significantly inhibited increases in immunoglobulin (Ig) E and T-helper 2 (Th2)-type cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-5 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue. Inflammatory cell infiltration of the airway in mice treated with MH was effectively alleviated when compared with infiltration seen in the OVA-induced group. These data indicated that decreased cytokine levels are the result of the decreased number of invaded leukocytes. Also, the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in BALF was diminished by MH treatment. Taken together, these findings indicate that the administration of MH may have potential therapeutic value in the treatment of inflammatory disease.
Herbal Medicine EBM Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Exporo 483, Yusung-gu, Daejeon 305-811, Korea.
Mee-Young
MY
Lee
Jin-Ah
JA
Lee
Chang-Seob
CS
Seo
Hyekyung
H
Ha
Nam-Hun
NH
Lee
Hyeun-Kyoo
HK
Shin
D000818:Animals; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D027541:Mentha / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D015848:Interleukin-5; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E