title: A standardized methanol extract of Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. (Asteraceae) reduces bronchial hyperresponsiveness and production of Th2 cytokines in a murine model of asthma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. (Asteraceae) has been used in Brazilian traditional medicine to treat asthma and other respiratory illnesses.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of different doses of a standardized extract of E. prostrata using a murine model of allergen induced asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Balb/c mice were sensitized twice with ovalbumin (OVA) administered intraperitoneally and challenged over four alternate days with nasal instillations of OVA solution. The standardized methanol extract of E. prostrata was administered in doses of 100, 250 and 500mgkg-1concomitantly with nasal instillation over seven consecutive days. Control animals were treated with dexamethasone or saline solution. Bronchial hyperresponsiveness, production of Th1 and Th2 cytokines, allergen sensitization, airway and lung inflammation, mucous secretion and airway remodeling were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The concentrations of chemical markers in the standardized methanol extract were 0.02% oroboside, 1.69% demethylwedelolactone and 1.71% wedelolactone. Treatment with 250mgkg-1of extract, which provided 0.745, 4.22 and 4.30mgkg-1day-1of oroboside, demethylwedelolactone and wedelolactone, respectively, significantly reduced (P<0.05) respiratory resistance and elastance. Such effects were comparable with those produced by dexamethasone. The total number of inflammatory cells and eosinophils in the bronchoalveolar lavage and the concentrations of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5 and IL-13 in lung homogenate were significantly reduced (P<0.05) by the methanol extract of E. prostrata.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results presented herein demonstrate for the first time the anti-inflammatory activity of E. prostrata in a murine model of asthma, thereby supporting the ethnopharmacological uses of the plant.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biotecnologia em Plantas Medicinais, Universidade de Ribeirão Preto, Av. Costábile Romano 2201, 14096-900 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucas Junqueira de Freitas
authors.initials: LJF
authors.lastname: Morel
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biotecnologia em Plantas Medicinais, Universidade de Ribeirão Preto, Av. Costábile Romano 2201, 14096-900 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruna Cestari de
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Azevedo
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes 3900, Monte Alegre 14049-900 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fábio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Carmona
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biotecnologia em Plantas Medicinais, Universidade de Ribeirão Preto, Av. Costábile Romano 2201, 14096-900 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Silvia Helena Taleb
authors.initials: SHT
authors.lastname: Contini
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Campus Samambaia, Av. Esperança, 74690-900 Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aristônio Magalhães
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Teles
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes 3900, Monte Alegre 14049-900 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernando Silva
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Ramalho
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biotecnologia em Plantas Medicinais, Universidade de Ribeirão Preto, Av. Costábile Romano 2201, 14096-900 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bianca Waléria
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Bertoni
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biotecnologia em Plantas Medicinais, Universidade de Ribeirão Preto, Av. Costábile Romano 2201, 14096-900 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Suzelei de Castro
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: França
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes 3900, Monte Alegre 14049-900 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcos de Carvalho
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biotecnologia em Plantas Medicinais, Universidade de Ribeirão Preto, Av. Costábile Romano 2201, 14096-900 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: apereira@unaerp.br.
authors.forename: Ana Maria Soares
authors.initials: AMS
authors.lastname: Pereira
mesh_terms: D056151:Airway Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D001938:Brazil; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D036601:Eclipta / Q000737:chemistry*; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional / Q000379:methods; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010047:Ovalbumin
keywords: Anti-inflammatory; Asthma; Demethylwedelolactone; Demethylwedelolactone (PubChem CID:5489605); Eclipta prostrate; Oroboside; Oroboside (PubChem CID:44257298); Wedelolactone; Wedelolactone (PubChem CID:5281813)