Stigmasterol Modulates Allergic Airway Inflammation in Guinea Pig Model of Ovalbumin-Induced Asthma

Pharmacological effects of medicinal components of Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC

Atractylodes lancea Thunb. DC. (AL) has a long history as one of the important herbs used in East Asia. This review is on the purpose of providing a comprehensive summary of the pharmacological effects of AL and its extractions. The publication from PubMed, ScienceDirect, Springer, and Wiley database was collected and summarized. The potential application of AL on the disease could be attributed to its pharmacological properties such as anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and other essential effects. Hence, this review aims at providing evidence of the pharmacological activities of AL as one of natural products used in clinical trial.

The leaves of Crataeva nurvala Buch-Ham. modulate locomotor and anxiety behaviors possibly through GABAergic system

Background

Crataeva nurvala Buch-Hum is an indigenous herb, extensively used in traditional medicines of the South Asian countries to treat inflammation, rheumatic fever, gastric irritation, and constipation. Despite this wide range of uses, very little information is known regarding its effects on the central nervous system (CNS). Therefore, this study evaluated the neuropharmacological properties of methanolic extract of Crataeva nurvala leaves (MECN) using a number of behavioral models in animals. This study also identified potentially active phytochemicals in MECN.

Methods

Following MECN administration (at 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg; b.w.) the animals (male Swiss albino mice) were employed in hole-cross test (HCT), open field test (OFT), and rota-rod test (RRT) to evaluate sedative properties, where anxiolytic activities were investigated using elevated plus maze (EPM), light dark box (LDB), and marble burying test (MBT). The involvement of GABAergic system was evaluated using thiopental sodium (TS)-induced sleeping time determination test. Moreover, colorimetric phytochemical tests as well as GC/MS-MS were also conducted to define the phytochemical constituents of MECN.

Results

MECN possesses sedative properties indicated through the dose-dependent inhibition of locomotor activities of the animals in HCT and OFT and motor coordination in RRT. MECN also exhibited prominent anxiolytic properties through decreased burying behavior in MBT, increased time spent and transitions in open arm of EPM, and increased time spent in light compartment of LDB. In addition, the treatments potentiated TS-mediated hypnosis indicating a possible participation of GABAergic system in the observed sedative and anxiolytic activities. Phytochemical screening of MECN revealed 48 different compounds in it. We reviewed and conceive that the sedative and anxiolytic effects could be due to the presence of neuroactive compounds such as phytol, D-allose, and α-Tocopherol in MECN.

Conclusion

The present study showed that MECN possesses sedative and anxiolytic potential which could be beneficial in treatment of anxiety and insomnia associated with different psychological disorders.

Stigmasterol Alleviates Cutaneous Allergic Responses in Rodents

The therapeutic potential of stigmasterol, a natural steroid alcohol with established immune-modulatory properties, was assessed on allergic cutaneous responses. We examined its suppressive effect on immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated active cutaneous anaphylaxis (ACA), compound 48/80 (C48/80)-induced pruritus, and irritant dermatitis induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Stigmasterol at 10–100 mg/kg significantly inhibited ACA with reduction in reaction area and concentration of the extravasated Evans blue dye. Given at 50 and 100 mg/kg, stigmasterol significantly inhibited C48/80-induced scratching behaviour when compared to saline-treated C48/80-injected control. Skin histopathology of injected sites confirmed that stigmasterol reduced mast cell trafficking and degranulation associated with C48/80-induced pruritus. Stigmasterol controlled inflammatory features such as ear skin oedema and neutrophilia and also reduced serum levels of TNFα induced by topical application of TPA. Epidermal layer thickening and inflammatory cell infiltration of ear skin tissue were significantly reduced by stigmasterol. Taken together, stigmasterol demonstrates significant potential as a molecule of interest in allergic skin disease therapy.

Inhibitory effects of 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxymethylphenol on asthmatic responses to ovalbumin challenge in conscious guinea pigs

This study evaluated the anti-asthmatic activities of 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxymethylphenol (DBHP) that is a potent phenolic antioxidant in edible vegetable oil. The effects of DBHP on bronchial asthma were evaluated by determining the specific airway resistance (sRaw) and tidal volume (TV) during the immediate asthmatic response (IAR) and the late-phase asthmatic response (LAR) in guinea pigs with aerosolized ovalbumin-induced asthma. Recruitment of leukocytes and the levels of biochemical inflammatory mediators were determined in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALFs), and histopathological surveys performed in lung tissues. DBHP significantly inhibited the increased sRaw and improved the decreased TV on IAR and LAR, and also inhibited recruitment of eosinophils and neutrophils into the lung, and release of biochemical inflammatory mediators such as histamine and phospholipase A2 from these infiltrated leukocytes, and improved pathological changes. However, anti-asthmatic activities of DBHP at oral doses of 12.5 to 50 mg/kg was less than those of dexamethasone (5 mg/kg, p.o.) and cromoglycate (10 mg/kg, p.o.), but more potent or similar to that of salbutamol (5 mg/kg, p.o.). These results in the present study suggest that anti-asthmatic effects of DBHP in the guinea pigs model of OVA-induced asthmatic responses principally are mediated by inhibiting the recruitments of the leukocytes and the release of biochemical inflammatory mediators from these infiltrated leukocytes.