Abstract
Allergic asthma is a highly prevalent airway inflammatory disease, which involves the interaction between the immune system, environmental and genetic factors. Co-relation between allergic asthma and gut microbiota upon the change of diet have been widely reported, implicating that oral intake of alternative medicines possess a potential in the management of allergic asthma. Previous clinical, in vivo, and in vitro studies have shown that the Pentaherbs formula (PHF) comprising five traditional Chinese herbal medicines Lonicerae Flos, Menthae Herba, Phellodendri Cortex, Moutan Cortex, and Atractylodis Rhizoma possesses an anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory potential through suppressing various immune effector cells. In the present study, to further investigate the anti-inflammatory activities of PHF in allergic asthma, intragastrical administration of PHF was found to reduce airway hyperresponsiveness, airway wall remodeling and goblet cells hyperplasia in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma mice model. PHF also significantly suppressed pulmonary eosinophilia and asthma-related cytokines IL-4 and IL-33 in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. In addition, PHF modulated the splenic regulatory T cells population, up-regulated regulatory interleukin (IL)-10 in serum, altered the microbial community structure and the short chain fatty acids content in the gut of the asthmatic mice. This study sheds light on the anti-inflammatory activities of PHF on allergic asthma. It also provides novel in vivo evidence that herbal medicines can ameliorate symptoms of allergic diseases may potentially prevent the development of subsequent atopic disorder such as allergic asthma through the influence of the gut microbiota.
Highlights
Allergic asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition of the airway triggered by allergens
The % change in Penh of the 14-day Pentaherbs formula (PHF)-treated mice was decreased from 306 to 225%, implying that the Airway Hyperresponsiveness (AHR) of the mouse was relieved as compared to the non-treated OVA control group
Th2 cell-mediated immune response leading to pulmonary eosinophilia remains the most representative pathogenesis among asthmatic patients
Summary
Allergic asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition of the airway triggered by allergens. It is estimated that 300 million people worldwide are suffering from asthma, especially children [1]. A predominant T helper type 2 (Th2)-immune response is the classical pathogenesis of allergic asthma. Asthmatic patients mainly rely on the use of β2-agonists, inhaled corticosteroids, leukotriene modifier, anti-IgE therapy and allergen immunotherapy for treatment [2]. Lifetime dependency, side effects on pediatric patients, and potential unsatisfactory response to these treatments still cause much concerns [2,3,4,5]. Since traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) are increasingly accepted and used as pharmacotherapeutic agents, it may be feasible to develop a novel herbal formula for the treatment of allergic asthma
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