Sceptridium ternatum extract exerts antiasthmatic effects by regulating Th1/Th2 balance and the expression levels of leukotriene receptors in a mouse asthma model.
OBJECTIVE
Sceptridium ternatum Lyon (ST), a common Chinese herb, has been used in treatment of allergic asthma and whooping cough. In the present study, we investigated the Th1/Th2 ratio of peripheral blood and mRNA levels of leukotriene receptors after the treatment of ST in allergic asthma mouse model.


METHODS
Mouse asthma model was developed by ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization followed by the inhalation of aerosol allergen. Montelukast (10mg/kg), as a positive control drug, and ST were administrated six days before the OVA sensitization for ten days. Airway responsiveness was evaluated by the Medlab 12.0 biological signal processing system. The ratio of Th1/Th2 cells was determined by flow cytometry. The expression level of Cyslt1 was measured by PCR. Pathological changes of lung tissues were examined by H&E staining.


RESULTS
ST significantly reduced the airway responsiveness, elevated the ratio of Th1/Th2, and decreased Cyslt1 mRNA level in a dose-dependent manner. High-dose ST distinctly prevented the pathological changes of lung tissues.


CONCLUSIONS
High-dose ST had the same efficacy as Montelukast in a mouse asthma model, and ST could be a potential anti-asthmatic agent.
Department of Pharmacy, Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, 234 Gucui Road, Hangzhou 310012, China.
Yong
Y
Yuan
Bo
B
Yang
Zuowu
Z
Ye
Meiling
M
Zhang
Xiuli
X
Yang
Chuanwei
C
Xin
Mengmeng
M
Lin
Ping
P
Huang
D000818:Animals; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002681:China; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D018077:Receptors, Leukotriene / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D058408:Th1-Th2 Balance / Q000187:drug effects*
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D018077:Receptors, Leukotriene; D010047:Ovalbumin
Airway responsiveness; Asthma; Immunomodulation; Sceptridium ternatum Lyon (ST); Th1/Th2; Traditional chinese medicine