Abstract
Context: To find bioactive medicinal herbs exerting anti-asthmatic activity, we investigated the effect of an aqueous extract of Urtica dioica L. (Urticaceae) leaves (UD), the closest extract to the Algerian traditional use.Objective: In this study, we investigated the in vivo anti-asthmatic and antioxidant activities of nettle extract.Materials and methods: Adult male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: Group I: negative control; group II: Ovalbumin sensitized/challenged rats (positive control); group III: received UD extract (1.5 g/kg/day) orally along the experimental protocol; group IV: received UD extract (1.5 g/kg/day) orally along the experimental protocol and sensitized/challenged with ovalbumin. After 25 days, blood and tissue samples were collected for haematological and histopathological analysis, respectively. The oxidative stress parameters were evaluated in the lungs, liver and erythrocytes. Then, correlations between markers of airway inflammation and markers of oxidative stress were explored.Results: UD extract significantly (p < 0.01) inhibited eosinophilia increases in BALF (−60%) and the levels of leucocytes (−32.75%) and lymphocytes (−29.22%) in serum, and effectively suppressed inflammatory cells recruitment in the asthmatic rat model. Besides, the lipid peroxidation generated by allergen administration was significantly (p < 0.05) diminished by UD treatment in lung tissue (−48.58%). The nettle extract was also investigated for the total phenolic content (30.79 ± 0.96 mg gallic acid/g dry extract) and shows DPPH radical scavenging activity with 152.34 ± 0.37 μg/mL IC50 value.Conclusions: The results confirmed that UD administration might be responsible for the protective effects of this extract against airway inflammation.
Highlights
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung disease, characterized by an influx and activation of inflammatory cells
The phytochemical composition of the extract to highlight some of antioxidant molecules may reduce oxidative stress which can contribute to the exacerbation of bronchial inflammation
The amount of flavonoids is in agreement with that given by Gu€ler (2013), but the polyphenols concentration is more to less low compared to the results by Kaledaite and Bernatoniene (2011)
Summary
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung disease, characterized by an influx and activation of inflammatory cells. The notion of oxidative stress is found in this type-I hypersensitivity reactions in which the inflammation of the airways is caused by the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and secreted by inflammatory cells (Dworsky 2000). These ROS can directly be responsible for lung injury and contraction of the bronchial muscles, participating in the typical bronchial obstruction in asthma. Several treatments to reduce the phenomenon of oxidative stress have been considered, including plant extracts used in diseases of the respiratory system (Lee et al 2010a, 2010b; Tiwari et al 2014; You et al 2014).
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
