title: Inhibitory effects of Pycnogenol® (French maritime pine bark extract) on airway inflammation in ovalbumin-induced allergic asthma.
abstract: Pycnogenol® (PYC) is a standardized extracts from the bark of the French maritime pine (Pinus maritime) and used as a herbal remedy for various diseases. In this study, we evaluated the effects of PYC on airway inflammation using a model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma and RAW264.7 cells. PYC decreased nitric oxide production and reduced the interleukine (IL)-1β and IL-6 levels in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. PYC also reduced the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and enhanced the expression of hemeoxygenase (HO)-1. In the in vivo experiment, PYC decreased the inflammatory cell count and the levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and immunoglobulin (Ig) E in BALF or serum. These results are consistent with the histological analysis findings, which showed that PYC attenuated the airway inflammation and mucus hypersecretion induced by OVA challenge. In addition, PYC enhanced the expression of HO-1. In contrast, PYC inhibited the elevated expression of iNOS and MMP-9 proteins induced by OVA challenge. In conclusion, PYC exhibits protective effects against OVA-induced asthma and LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. These results suggest that PYC has potential as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of allergic asthma.
authors.affiliation: Natural Medicine Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 30 Yeongudanji-ro, Ochang-eup, Cheongwon-gun, Chungbuk 363-883, Republic of Korea; College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 500-757, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: In-Sik
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Na-Rae
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Chan-Mi
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Ju-Mi
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Ok-Kyoung
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Jong-Choon
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sei-Ryang
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Kyu-Woung
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: Kyung-Seop
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Ahn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000378:metabolism; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy; D007378:Interleukins / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology / Q000633:toxicity; D028223:Pinus / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D005419:Flavonoids; D007378:Interleukins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D020011:Protective Agents; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; C024070:pycnogenols; D010047:Ovalbumin; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496317:Nos2 protein, mouse; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1; C496542:Hmox1 protein, mouse; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9
keywords: Asthma; French maritime pine bark; Inflammation; Pycnogenol®