title: Anti-asthmatic potential of chrysin on ovalbumin-induced bronchoalveolar hyperresponsiveness in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chrysin, a flavonoid obtained from various natural sources, has been reported to act as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent. However, its anti-allergic action is not fully understood.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we investigated the in vivo anti-asthmatic activity of chrysin.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effects of chrysin were evaluated using ovalbumin (OVA) (two subcutaneous 1 mL injections of 20 μg) to induce bronchoalveolar hyperresponsiveness in rats. Chrysin, when administered at 3, 10, and 30 mg/kg, p.o., respectively, before OVA challenge, reduced inflammatory cell (total and differential cell count) infiltration into the lungs measured from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid as supported by lung histology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total lung injury score was reduced in a dose-dependent manner, evaluated in six different categories (infiltration of leucocytes, type of inflammatory exudates, status of bronchi, perivascular status of lung blood vessels, integrity of alveoli and activation of alveolar macrophages). Various cellular injury parameters such as alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, and total protein were estimated and found to be reduced by chrysin pretreatment. Further, chrysin was found to reduce nitrite concentration (NO) and lipid peroxidation, suggesting its antioxidant activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chrysin showed anti-asthmatic potential, probably due to the alteration of Th1/Th2 polarization via the suppression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, nuclear factor-κB, and activation protein.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Padmashree Dr D Y Patil Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, Pimpri, Pune, India.
authors.forename: Pankaj G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Wadibhasme
authors.forename: Mahesh M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ghaisas
authors.forename: Prasad A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Thakurdesai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D002452:Cell Count; D016764:Cell Polarity; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D005419:Flavonoids; C043561:chrysin; D010047:Ovalbumin