title: A water extract of Samchulkunbi-tang attenuates airway inflammation by inhibiting inos and MMP-9 activities in an ovalbumin-induced murine asthma model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this study, we investigated the effect of Samchulkunbi-tang water extract (SCTE) in an established mouse model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma. The effects of SCTE on the production of Th1 and Th2 cytokines, eotaxin, and total and OVA-specific immunoglobulin E, inducible nitric oxide synthase expression, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 activity were measured.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mice were sensitized on days 0 and 14 with an intraperitoneal injection of 20 μg ovalbumin (OVA) emulsified in 2 mg aluminum hydroxide in 200 μL PBS buffer. On days 21, 22, and 23, mice received an airway exposure to OVA (1%, w/v, in PBS) for 1 h. SCTE was administered orally to mice at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg per day from days 18 to 23.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SCTE reduced the number of inflammatory cells, cytokines, and chemokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids and iNOS expression and MMP-9 activity in mouse lung tissue. Histological studies using hematoxylin & eosin and periodic acid-schiff staining showed that SCTE substantially inhibited OVA-induced inflammatory cell infiltration in lung tissue and goblet cell hyperplasia in the airway. SCTE also reduced IL-4 and IL-13 expression in concanavalin-A-stimulated splenocytes. These results were similar to those obtained with montelukast as a positive control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Collectively, these results suggest that SCTE may be an effective oral treatment for allergic airway inflammation by virtue of its anti-inflammatory activity.
authors.affiliation: Basic Herbal Medicine Research Group, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, 483 Expo-ro, Yusung-gu, Daejeon, 305-811, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Mee Young
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: In Sik
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Hye Sun
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Hyeun Kyoo
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D018793:Interleukin-13; D015847:Interleukin-4; D010047:Ovalbumin; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9