title: Thuja orientalis reduces airway inflammation in ovalbumin-induced allergic asthma.
abstract: Thuja orientalis (TO) may be used as a herbal remedy for the treatment of numerous inflammatory diseases. In the present study, the effects of TO were evaluated on airway inflammation in ovalbumin (OVA)‑induced allergic asthma and RAW264.7 murine macrophage cells. The effects of TO on the production of proinflammatory mediators, were determined in RAW264.7 cells that had been stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Furthermore, an in vivo experiment was performed on mice that were sensitized to OVA and then received an OVA airway challenge. TO was administered by daily oral gavage at a dose of 30 mg/kg, 21‑23 days after the initial OVA sensitization. TO was shown to reduce nitric oxide production and reduce the relative mRNA expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), interleukin (IL)‑6, cyclooxygenase‑2, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‑9, and tumor necrosis factor‑α in RAW264.7 cells stimulated with LPS. In addition, TO markedly decreased the inflammatory cell counts in bronchial alveolar lavage fluid, reduced the levels of IL‑4, IL‑5, IL‑13, eotaxin and immunoglobulin E, and reduced airway hyperresponsivenes, in the OVA sensitized mice. Furthermore, TO attenuated airway inflammation and mucus hypersecretion, induced by the OVA challenge of the lung tissue. TO also reduced the expression of iNOS and MMP‑9 in lung tissue. In conclusion, TO exerted anti‑inflammatory effects in an OVA‑induced allergic asthma model, and in LPS‑stimulated RAW264.7 cells. These results suggest that TO may be a useful therapeutic agent for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, including allergic asthma.
authors.affiliation: Natural Medicine Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Cheongwon‑gun, Chungbuk 363‑883, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: In-Sik
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Natural Medicine Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Cheongwon‑gun, Chungbuk 363‑883, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Na-Rae
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Natural Medicine Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Cheongwon‑gun, Chungbuk 363‑883, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chan-Mi
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: Natural Medicine Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Cheongwon‑gun, Chungbuk 363‑883, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ok-Kyoung
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Natural Medicine Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Cheongwon‑gun, Chungbuk 363‑883, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ju-Mi
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Natural Medicine Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Cheongwon‑gun, Chungbuk 363‑883, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hui-Seong
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Natural Medicine Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Cheongwon‑gun, Chungbuk 363‑883, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sei-Ryang
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Natural Medicine Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Cheongwon‑gun, Chungbuk 363‑883, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Seop
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Ahn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002460:Cell Line; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000235:genetics; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008264:Macrophages; 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; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry; D015398:Signal Transduction; D029783:Thuja / Q000737:chemistry*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D010047:Ovalbumin; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496317:Nos2 protein, mouse; C077623:Ptgs2 protein, mouse; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9