title: Flavones derived from nature attenuate the immediate and late-phase asthmatic responses to aerosolized-ovalbumin exposure in conscious guinea pigs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the lung that is characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness and the increase of inflammatory cell infiltration into the airways. Naturally occurring flavones have potent anti-inflammatory effects, but their effects on asthmatic responses are still relatively unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the inhibitory effects of flavone derivatives having the chromone moiety on the immediate-phase asthmatic response (IAR) and the late-phase asthmatic response (LAR) to aerosolized-ovalbumin (OA) exposure in conscious OA-sensitized guinea pigs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Luteolin and apigenin (30 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly (P < 0.05) decreased not only the specific airway resistance (sRaw) in IAR and LAR, but also the recruitment of leukocytes and the release of histamine and activities of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and eosinophil peroxide (EPO) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), compared to control. However, their anti-asthmatic activities were less than those of cromolyn sodium and dexamethasone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that flavones containing more hydroxyl radicals have a greater anti-asthmatic effect. The potencies of flavone anti-asthmatic activities are, in order: luteolin ≥ apigenin > baicalein > chrysin > flavone.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pathophysiology and Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-Ro, Dongjak-Gu, Seoul, 156-756, South Korea, jiyunlee78@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ji-Yun
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jung Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chang Jong
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D000485:Allergens; D000818:Animals; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D047309:Flavones / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006632:Histamine / Q000276:immunology; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010047:Ovalbumin; D054467:Phospholipases A2 / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D047309:Flavones; D006632:Histamine; D010047:Ovalbumin; D054467:Phospholipases A2