title: The anti-allergic activity of Cymbopogon citratus is mediated via inhibition of nuclear factor kappa B (Nf-Κb) activation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of allergic diseases such as asthma has significantly increased worldwide, making it a public health concern. There is an urgent need for new anti-inflammatory agents with selective pharmacology and lower toxicity. Plant extracts have been used for centuries in traditional medicine to alleviate inflammatory diseases. In this work, we evaluated the anti-allergic activity of Cymbopogon citratus (Cy), a medicinal herb used by folk medicine to treat asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a murine model of respiratory allergy to the mite Blomia tropicalis (Bt) and evaluated certain parameters known to be altered in this model. A/J mice were sensitized (100 μg/animal s.c.) and challenged (10 μg/animal i.n.) with Bt mite extract and treated with 60, 120 or 180 mg/kg of Cy standardized hexane extract. The parameters evaluated included: cellular infiltrate in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL); eosinophil peroxidase activity (EPO); histopathological examination of the lung; serum levels of specific IgE, IgG1 and IgG2a; Th2 cytokine concentrations in BAL and expression of NF-κB.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results showed that oral administration of a Cy hexane extract (especially 180 mg/Kg) reduced the numbers of leukocytes/eosinophils in BAL; the eosinophil peroxidase activity in BAL; the infiltration of leukocytes in lung tissue; the production of mucus in the respiratory tract; the level of IL-4 in BAL and the nuclear expression of NF-κB.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results presented demonstrate the potential of the Cy hexane extract to modulate allergic asthma; this extract may be an alternative future approach to treat this pathology.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biorregulação, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Campus do Canela, CEP 41110-100, Salvador, BA, Brazil.|Faculdade Adventista da Bahia, Cachoeira, Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santos Serafim Machado
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biorregulação, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Campus do Canela, CEP 41110-100, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Hugo Bernardino
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Ferreira Silva
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biorregulação, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Campus do Canela, CEP 41110-100, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Raimon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rios
authors.affiliation: Faculdade Adventista da Bahia, Cachoeira, Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Anaque
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pires de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biorregulação, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Campus do Canela, CEP 41110-100, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Noma
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vilany Queiroz Carneiro
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biorregulação, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Campus do Canela, CEP 41110-100, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Santos Costa
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biorregulação, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Campus do Canela, CEP 41110-100, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Santos Alves
authors.affiliation: Faculdade Adventista da Bahia, Cachoeira, Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fabio-Luis
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Meneses Souza
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eudes
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: da Silva Velozo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Moleculares, Laboratório de Bioprospecção Fitoquímica da Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, 52171-900, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alves de Souza
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Moleculares, Laboratório de Bioprospecção Fitoquímica da Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, 52171-900, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tania Maria
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Sarmento Silva
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Lenise
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Centro de pesquisa Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lain Carlos
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Pontes-de-Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biorregulação, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Campus do Canela, CEP 41110-100, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Neuza Maria
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Alcântara-Neves
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biorregulação, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Campus do Canela, CEP 41110-100, Salvador, BA, Brazil. cavfigueiredo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Camila Alexandrina
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D031743:Cymbopogon; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D047209:Eosinophil Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000378:metabolism; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000276:immunology; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008925:Mites; D009093:Mucus / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010936:Plant Extracts; D015847:Interleukin-4; D047209:Eosinophil Peroxidase