Abstract
Uncaria guianensis (Aubl.) J. F. Gmel. (“cat’s claw”, Rubiaceae) is a plant with potential to treat asthma because of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of two extracts of U. guianensis in an animal model of allergic asthma. Balb/c mice were sensitized twice with ovalbumin intraperitoneally one week apart, then challenged with intranasal ovalbumin for three days. Animals were treated with aqueous or hydroethanolic extracts (100 mg/kg) for three days, simultaneously with ovalbumin challenges. Control mice received saline solution on the same days. In vivo bronchial hyper responsiveness, airway and lung inflammation, IgE levels, and total antioxidant capacity were measured. Treatment with the hydroethanolic extract significantly reduced total cell and eosinophil counts in bronchoalveolar lavage, and in vivo bronchial hyper responsiveness. Moreover, U. guianensis hydroethanolic extract significantly reduced interleukin 13 levels in lung homogenate. Total antioxidant capacity and IgE serum levels were not affected with the extract administration. Of note, treatment with the aqueous extract did not elicit significant effects on asthma-like characteristics. Only the hydroethanolic extract of U. guianensis reduced lung inflammation and bronchial hyper responsiveness in asthmatic mice. Key words: Anti-inflammatory agents, asthma, oxindolics, phenols, respiratory hypersensitivity, Uncaria guianensis, Rubiaceae.  
Highlights
Asthma is a highly prevalent chronic inflammatory disease whose main characteristics are bronchial hyper responsiveness, variable limitation of airflow, and airway inflammation
Identification and quantification of major compounds in the extracts. Both extracts contained mitraphylline and isomitraphylline (Supplementary Figure 1), the concentration of mitraphylline in UGH extract (9.7 ± 0.6 μg/mL) was greater than in UGA extract (4.6 ± 1.0 μg/mL). Phenolic compounds such as quinic and chlorogenic acids were detected in U. guianensis extracts (Supplementary Figure 2 and Supplementary Figure 3)
Quinic acid was detected in higher concentrations in UGA (288.4 ± 20.8 μg/mL) than in UGH extract (141.3 ± 20.1 μg/mL), while chlorogenic acid was detected in much lower concentrations in both extracts, being higher in UGH (15.0 ± 1.0 μg/mL) than in UGA extract (9.9 ± 1.2 μg/mL)
Summary
Asthma is a highly prevalent chronic inflammatory disease whose main characteristics are bronchial hyper responsiveness, variable limitation of airflow, and airway inflammation. Worldwide, and its prevalence is increasing in the last 20 years (Global Initiative for Asthma, 2019). Asthmatic patients may be in an oxidative state in which oxygen and nitrogen reactive species are linked to inflammation and disease severity (Kirkham and Rahman, 2006; Mishra et al, 2018; Nadeem et al, 2003; Sahiner et al, 2011). The first-choice drugs for asthma are inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting bronchodilators, but some patients may need short-acting bronchodilators (for immediate symptom relief), leukotriene antagonists, muscarinic antagonists, and monoclonal antibodies (Global Initiative for Asthma, 2019). New, safer, effective drugs for asthma are still needed. This can be accomplished by screening plants with antiinflammatory activity
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