title: Inhibitory Effect of Pycnogenol®on Airway Inflammation in Ovalbumin-Induced Allergic Rhinitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The supplement Pycnogenol®(PYC) has been used for the treatment of several chronic diseases including allergic rhinitis (AR). However, the in vivo effects on allergic inflammation have not been identified to date.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the treatment results of PYC on allergic inflammation in a rat model of allergic rhinitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Animal experimentation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Allergic rhinitis was stimulated in 42 rats by intraperitoneal sensitization and intranasal challenge with Ovalbumin. The animals were divided into six subgroups: healthy controls, AR group, AR group treated with corticosteroid (dexamethasone 1 mg/kg; CS+AR), healthy rats group that were given only PYC of 10 mg/kg (PYC10), AR group treated with PYC of 3mg/kg (PYC3+AR), and AR group treated with PYC of 10 mg/kg (PYC10+AR). Interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and OVA-specific immunoglobulin E (Ig-E) levels of serum were measured. Histopathological changes in nasal mucosa and expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and IL-1β were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of the IL-4 were significantly decreased in the PYC3+AR, PYC10+AR and CS+AR groups compared with the AR group (p=0.002, p<0.001, p=0.006). The production of the IFN-γ was significantly decreased in the PYC3+AR and PYC10+AR groups compared with the AR group (p=0.013, p=0.001). The administration of PYC to allergic rats suppressed the elevated IL-10 production, especially in the PYC3+AR group (p=0.006). Mucosal edema was significantly decreased respectively after treatment at dose 3 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg PYC (both, p<0.001). The mucosal expression of TNF-α has significantly decreased in the PYC3+AR and PYC10+AR groups (p=0.005, p<0.001), while the IL-1β expression significantly decreased in the CS+AR, PYC3+AR, and PYC10+AR groups (p<0.001, p=0.003, p=0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PYC has multiple suppressive effects on allergic response. Thus, PYC may be used as a supplementary agent in allergic response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Adnan Menderes University School of Medicine, Aydın, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ceren
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Günel
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Pharmacology, Adnan Menderes University School of Medicine, Aydın, Turkey.
authors.forename: Buket
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Demirci
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Adnan Menderes University School of Medicine, Aydın, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aylin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eryılmaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Adnan Menderes University School of Medicine, Aydın, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yılmaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Pathology, Adnan Menderes University School of Medicine, Aydın, Turkey.
authors.forename: İbrahim
authors.initials: İ
authors.lastname: Meteoğlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistic, Adnan Menderes University School of Medicine, Aydın, Turkey.
authors.forename: İmran Kurt
authors.initials: İK
authors.lastname: Ömürlü
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Adnan Menderes University School of Medicine, Aydın, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yeşim
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Başal
keywords: IL-10; IL-1β; IL-4; OVA-specific IgE; Pycnogenol; TNF-α; allergic rhinitis; edema; eosinophil; goblet cell