Abstract
BackgroundSamsoeum has long been used in Korea and other Asian countries as a traditional medicine to treat various diseases. In the present study, we investigated the antiasthma effect of the herbal medicine Samsoeum water extract (SSEW) using an in vivo ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthmatic model.MethodsFemale BALB/c mice were sensitized by an intraperitoneal injection of OVA and subsequently challenged with nebulized OVA. We investigated the number of inflammatory cells, the production of Th1/Th2 cytokines and chemokine in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), histological changes in lung tissue, the infiltration of inflammatory cells and hyperplasia of goblet cells in lung tissue, the levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in BALF and plasma, and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in lung tissue.ResultsOur findings indicated that SSEW decreased the accumulation of inflammatory cells (particularly, eosinophil and neutrophil) and regulated the balance in the production of Th1/Th2 cytokines and chemokine in BALF. Moreover, SSEW suppressed the level of IgE in BALF and plasma, and inhibited the infiltration of inflammatory cells, hyperplasia of goblet cells, and the expression of iNOS in lung tissue.ConclusionsCollectively, these results suggest that, because of its anti-inflammatory and antiasthma properties, SSEW may be useful in reducing airway inflammation in the treatment of allergic asthma.
Highlights
Samsoeum has long been used in Korea and other Asian countries as a traditional medicine to treat various diseases
Samsoeum water extract (SSEW) reduced the number of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) To measure inflammatory cells, we counted the number of total cells, lymphocyte, neutrophils, macrophages, and eosinophils in BALF
SSEW decreased the Th1 cytokine and Th2 chemokine levels in BALF To investigate the effects of SSEW on the T-cell immune response in asthmatic mice, we evaluated the production of Th1-type cytokines and the Th2-type chemokines in BALF
Summary
Samsoeum has long been used in Korea and other Asian countries as a traditional medicine to treat various diseases. Allergic asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airway that is characterized by airway inflammation, intense eosinophilia, lymphocyte infiltration, and mucus overproduction [1]. Allergen-specific CD4+ T cells play a pivotal role in the development of asthma [2]. Th1 cells allergies are caused by characteristic immunoresponses to allergens, primarily mediated by Th2 cells. Th2 cells synthesize high levels of interleukin 4 (IL-4), IL-5, and IL-13, which leads to the release of allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) and the production of mediators from mast cells [3]. Lung inflammation in allergic asthma is induced by a cascade of reactions involving several mediators, including nitric oxide (NO). NO plays an essential role in regulating airway function and in the pathophysiology of inflammatory airway diseases. It is known that each of these isoforms may be
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
