The ethanol extract of Involcucrum castaneae ameliorated ovalbumin-induced airway inflammation and smooth muscle thickening in guinea pigs

Vitamin D Attenuates Airway Inflammation in Asthmatic Guinea Pigs Using Mammalian Target of Rapamycin-Mediated Autophagy

The purpose of this experiment is to find out the function of Vitamin D (VD) in airway inflammation in asthmatic guinea pigs by regulating mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-mediated autophagy. A total of 40 male guinea pigs were randomly assigned into the Con group, the ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized group, the VD group, the VD + dimethyl sulfoxide group, and the VD + rapamycin (mTOR inhibitor) group. Then, serum from all groups was harvested for the measurement of immunoglobulin E (IgE), interleukin (IL)-4, and IL-5 levels. Next, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was collected for cell counting. Moreover, lung tissues were extracted to assess levels of p-mTOR and autophagy factors (LC3B, Beclin1, Atg5, and P62). Compared with the Con group, the OVA group showed elevated levels of IgE, IL-4, and IL-5, increased contents of eosinophils, neutrophil, and lymphocytes, and declined monocytes. And the VD group improved inflammatory reactions in the guinea pigs. Besides, the OVA group showed lower levels of p-mTOR and P62 and higher autophagy levels than the Con group, while the VD group had opposite results. Rapamycin annulled the suppressive role of VD to airway inflammation in asthmatic guinea pigs. VD might inhibit OVA-induced airway inflammation by inducing mTOR activation and downregulating autophagy in asthmatic guinea pigs.

Modulation of interleukin expression by medicinal plants and their secondary metabolites: A systematic review on anti-asthmatic and immunopharmacological mechanisms

BACKGROUND

Asthma is one of the most common chronic inflammatory conditions of the lungs in modern society. Asthma is associated with airway hyperresponsiveness and remodeling of the airways, with typical symptoms of cough, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness. Interleukins (IL) play an integral role in its inflammatory pathogenesis. Medicinal herbs and secondary metabolites are gaining considerable attention due to their potential therapeutic role and pharmacological mechanisms as adjunct tools to synthetic bronchodilator drugs.

PURPOSE

To systematically review the literature on the use of single or mixed plants extracts therapy in vivo experimental systems for asthma, emphasizing their regulations on IL production to improve lung.

METHODS

Literature searches were performed on PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus and Web of Science databases. All articles in English were extracted from 1999 up to September 2019, assessed critically for data extraction. Studies investigating the effectiveness and safety of plant extracts administered; inflammatory cell count, immunoglobulin E (IgE) production and regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine and T helper (Th) 1 and Th2-driven cytokine expression in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung of asthmatic animals were included.

RESULTS

Four hundred and eighteen publications were identified and 51 met the inclusion criteria. Twenty-six studies described bioactive compounds from plant extracts. The most frequent immunopharmacological mechanisms described included reduction in IgE and eosinophilic recruitment, decreased mucus hypersecretion and airway hyperreactivity, enhancement of the balance of Th1/Th2 cytokine ratio, suppression of matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9) and reversal of structural alterations.

CONCLUSION

Plant extract therapies have potential control activities on asthma symptoms by modulating the secretion of pro-inflammatory (IL-1β, IL-8), Th17 (IL-17), anti-inflammatory (IL-10, IL-23, IL-31, IL-33), Th1 (IL-2, IL-12) and Th2 (IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-13) cytokines, reducing the level of biomarkers of airway inflammation.

Recent Trends in the Application of Chromatographic Techniques in the Analysis of Luteolin and Its Derivatives

Luteolin is a flavonoid often found in various medicinal plants that exhibits multiple biological effects such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activity. Commercially available medicinal plants and their preparations containing luteolin are often used in the treatment of hypertension, inflammatory diseases, and even cancer. However, to establish the quality of such preparations, appropriate analytical methods should be used. Therefore, the present paper provides the first comprehensive review of the current analytical methods that were developed and validated for the quantitative determination of luteolin and its C- and O-derivatives including orientin, isoorientin, luteolin 7-O-glucoside and others. It provides a systematic overview of chromatographic analytical techniques including thin layer chromatography (TLC), high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC), liquid chromatography (LC), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography (GC) and counter-current chromatography (CCC), as well as the conditions used in the determination of luteolin and its derivatives in plant material.