Phytochemical profiles and biological activity evaluation of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim seed against asthma in murine models.
BACKGROUND
Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim seed (ZBMS) has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as an ingredient of polyherbal formulations for the treatment of inflammation and asthma. The aim of this study was to analyze the major composition and to evaluate the anti-asthma activity of ZBMS.


METHODS
Some murine models including acetylcholine/histamine-induced asthma, ovalbumin-induced airway inflammation, ear edema and toe swelling measurement, citric acid-induced cough, and anti-stress abilities were investigated to fully study the anti-asthma activity of ZBMS.GC chromatography was also performed to analyze the major fatty acid composition of ZBMS.


RESULTS
The results demonstrated that the major fatty acid composition of ZBMS includes oleic acid (20.15%), linoleic acid (26.54%), and α-linolenic acid (30.57%), which was the leading component of ZBMS, and that the total fatty acid content of ZBMS was 77.27%. The murine models demonstrated that ZBMS displays a protective effect on guinea pig sensitization, a dose-dependent inhibition of the increases in RL and decreases in Cdyn, which resulted in the relief of auricle edema and toe swelling in mice and anti-stress activity.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results validate the traditional use of ZBMS for the treatment of asthma and other inflammatory joint disorders, and suggest that ZBMS has potential as a new therapeutic agent for asthma management.
School of Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People׳s Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People׳s Republic of China.
Weizhuo
W
Tang
Zhejiang Respiratory Drugs Research Laboratory of State Food and Drug Administration of China, Medical College of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, People׳s Republic of China.
Qiangmin
Q
Xie
Liaoning Province Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Shenyang 110015, People׳s Republic of China.
Jian
J
Guan
Zhejiang Respiratory Drugs Research Laboratory of State Food and Drug Administration of China, Medical College of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, People׳s Republic of China.
Saihong
S
Jin
School of Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People׳s Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People׳s Republic of China. Electronic address: zyq4885@126.com.
Yuqing
Y
Zhao
D000818:Animals; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004487:Edema / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D051379:Mice; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000633:toxicity; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012639:Seeds; D032106:Zanthoxylum / Q000737:chemistry*
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010047:Ovalbumin
Anti-asthma activity; Fatty acids; Murine models; Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim seed