• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.343-352
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• 2008

Frankincense, the gum resin derived from Boswellia species, is complex mixtures composed of about $5{\sim}9%$ highly aromatic essential oil, $65{\sim}85%$ alcohol-soluble resins, and the remaining water-soluble gums. The anti-inflammatory properties of frankincense, alcohole-soluble resins, are well-recognized, but the question of whether aromatic essential oil also plays a role in the allergic asthma remains unanswered. This study was performed to evaluate anti-inflammatory effects of Boswellia sacra essential oil (BSEO) on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma mouse model. BALB/c mice after intraperitoneal OVA sensitization were challenged with intratracheal OVA. One experimental group was inhaled with 0.3% BSEO for the later 8 weeks. BALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged with OVA and developed airway eosinophilia, mucus hypersecretion, and airway hyperresponsiveness. In contrast, the BSEO treated mice had reduced a number of eosinophils among BALF cells, goblet cell hyperplasia, and airway hyperresponsiveness. Cytokine analysis of BALF revealed that BSEO caused an increase in Th1 cytokine (interferon-$\gamma$ (IFN-$\gamma$)) and a decrease in Th2 cytokines (interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5 and IL-13) levels. In addition, the OVA-specific serum IgE and eotaxin levels were also reduced. In mice inhaled BSEO, $CD4^+$, $CD3^+/CCR3^+$, and $B220^+/CD23^+$ mediastinal lymph nodes cells were also decreased. These results suggest that inhaled BSEO as a immunomodulator in Th1/Th2 mediated asthma may have therapeutic potential for the treatment in allergic airway inflammation by a simple, cost-effective way.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.284-291
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• 2007

Purpose : Theophylline has recently been reported to have concurrent anti-inflammatory effects at low therapeutic plasma concentrations which are below the doses at which significants, clinically useful bronchodilatation is evident. Sustained-release formulation in capsule and dry syrup forms were developed to reduce its adverse effects and improve its clinical effects. We compared the therapeutic effects of theophylline dry syrup and capsules in children with mild asthma. Methods : Ninety children with mild asthma were randomized to receive either theophylline dry syrup (n=44) or theophylline capsules (n=46); 4 mg per kilogram of body weight, twice a day, for 12 weeks. Baseline and serial measurements of daytime and nighttime asthma symptom score were performed. Compliance scores, drug swallowing scores, and drug usability scores were measured every 4 weeks. Each scoring was rated on a scale of 0-4. Serum theophylline concentration were measured at 4 and at 12 weeks. To examine the anti-inflammatory effect of theophylline on asthma, Serum eosinophilic cationic protein as a marker of airway inflammation caused by eosinophil was measured 12 weeks pre- and post-administration. Results : The daytime and nighttime asthma symptom scores of the two groups after 4 weeks significantly improved over the baseline score. Daytime and nighttime asthma symptom scores in the dry syrup group were statistically lower at all time points except for the nighttime symptom scores at 4 weeks. Compliance scores, drug swallowing scores, and drug usability scores in the dry syrup group were significantly higher at the end time point. Only in the dry syrup group was the serum ECP at the end time point statistically lower than baseline. Conclusion : Low-dose sustained-release theophylline may be safe and effective in bronchial asthma and this effect may be mediated by its anti-inflammatory action mechanisms. Especially, when used in children with asthma, dry syrup formulation is recommended because of its higher compliance than capsule formulation.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.121-129
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• 2006

BACKGROUND : Socheongryong-Tang(小靑龍湯, SCRT), a herbal medicine, has been widely used for the control of respiratory disease in Eastern countries. Recent years SCRT was known as anti-allergic agent. However, its therapeutic mechanisms, especially an inhibitory effect on inflammatory cell infiltration and airway remodeling in allergic asthma are unclear. METHODS : We investigated the effects of SCRT on levels of IL-4, and IFN-g using flow cytometric analysis and infiltration of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) using cytospin methods in allergen-induced asthma. RESULTS : SCRT decreased levels of IL-4, a Th2-driven cytokine. But INF-g, a Th1-driven cytokine, was not changed. With SCRT treatment, infiltration of inflammatory cells showed reduced tendency. CONCLUSION : In conclusion, we demonstrated that regulation of Th1/Th2 imbalance may be one of mechanism contributed to reduction of inflammatory cell infiltration.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.81-89
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• 2018

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 $A_2$ 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.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.24-31
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• 2008

In the present investigation, we studied the effect of alcoholic extract of Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) seed kernels on various experimental models of bronchial asthma. Significant (P < 0. 05) increase in preconvulsion time was observed due to pretreatment with M. oleifera when the guinea pigs were exposed to either acetylcholine (Ach) or histamine aerosol. This bronchodilating effect of M. oleifera was comparable to ketotifen fumarate. Spasmolytic effect of M. oleifera was also observed by dose dependent inhibition of ideal contractions induced by Ach, 5HT, histamine and $BaCl_2$. Alcoholic extract of M. oleifera produced significant dose dependent protection by egg albumin and compound 48/80 induced mast cell degranulation. Pretreatment with alcoholic extract of M. oleifera also decreased carrageenan induced rat paw edema, which was comparable to that of standard diclofenac sodium. Minimum inhibitory concentration for alcoholic extract of M. oleifera was low as compared to cold-water extract and hot water extract when antimicrobial activity was tested against various respiratory pathogens like Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococus aureus (S. aureus) and pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). Our data suggest that antiasthmatic activity of M. oleifera seed kernels may be due to its bronchodilator, anti-inflammatory, mast cell stabilization and antimicrobial activity.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2015

To explore the anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects of extracts of Petasites genus, we studied the effects of s-petasin, a major sesquiterpene from Petasites formosanus (a butterbur species) on asthma and peritonitis models. In an ovalbumin-induced mouse asthma model, s-petasin significantly inhibited the accumulations of eosinophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes in bronchoalveolar fluids. S-petasin inhibited the antigen-induced degranulation of ${\beta}$-hexosamidase but did not inhibit intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ increase in RBL-2H3 mast cells. S-petasin inhibited the LPS induction of iNOS at the RNA and protein levels in mouse peritoneal macrophages. Furthermore, s-petasin inhibited the production of NO (the product of iNOS) in a concentration-dependent manner in the macrophages. Furthermore, in an LPS-induced mouse model of peritonitis, s-petasin significantly inhibited the accumulation of polymorpho nuclear and mononuclear leukocytes in peritoneal cavity. This study shows that s-petasin in Petasites genus has therapeutic effects on allergic and inflammatory diseases, such as, asthma and peritonitis through degranulation inhibition in mast cells, suppression of iNOS induction and production of NO in macrophages, and suppression of inflammatory cell accumulation.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.332-337
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• 2014

The Salvia plebeia R. which is the biennial plant belonging to the labiatae department, grows widely in Korea. This study was performed to evaluate the antioxidant activities and anti-allergic effects of Salvia plebeia R. leaves (SPLE) or roots (SPRE). Using ethanol extracts, both leaves and roots induced significant radical scavenging activity against DPPH and ABTS radicals in a dose dependent manner (p<0.05). Superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity of SPLE was significantly higher than that of SPRE at all concentrations. Treatment of the RBL-2H3 cells with SPLE and SPRE in vitro decreased ${\beta}$-Hexosaminidase release and significantly inhibited IgE-antigen complex-mediated IL-4 and TNF-${\alpha}$ mRNA expression in RBL-2H3 cells. These findings suggest that Salvia plebeia R. can protect or reduce allergic asthma through high antioxidant and anti-allergic reactions.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.1-10
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• 2019

Objectives : The objective of present study is to evaluate anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects of Perilla(Perilla frutescens; Labiatae, PF), the roots of Peucedanum praeruptorum(PP) and the root of Scutellaria baicalensis(SB) in vitro and anti-asthmatic effects of mixture of PF, PP and SB(PS) on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma in BALB/c mice. Methods : Anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects were observed on the lipopolysaccharide(LPS) treated RAW 264.7 cells through Nitric Oxide(NO) production and RBL-2H3 cells through ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase. Anti-asthmatic effects were observed on the number of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) and the level of IgE in serum on OVA-induced BALB/c mice. Results : The treatment of PF, PP and SB(12.5, 25, 50, $100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$) resulted in a significant inhibition of NO production in RAW 264.7 cells and mast cell degranulation in RBL-2H3 cells. Oral administration of PS(400mg/kg/day) resulted in a significant reduction in the numbers of eosinophils in BALF and level of IgE in serum. Conclusion : The oral administration of PS is effective in ameliorating the eosinophilic infiltration in vivo and thus can be a good therapeutic candidate for allergic asthma.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.175-180
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• 2007

Objective : The application of Sam So Eum (蔘蘇飮, SSE) as a herbal medicine to treat asthma in mice has been studied and the mechanism of cytokine production in asthmatic mice was discussed. Recently, SSE was known to have anti-allergic activity. However, its therapeutic mechanisms are unclear. Methods : So, we investigated the effects of SSE on levels of several cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) using flow cytometric analysis in allergen-induced asthma. Results : In this experiment, SSE decreased levels of IL-la, IL-17 and GM-CSF respectively. Contrary, SSE restored level of IFN-g toward naive level in BALF. Conclusion : In conclusion, we demonstrate that SSE is useful to treat asthma and it's therapeutic mechanisms are involved in Thl skewing reaction.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.237-244
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• 2015

In this study, essential oils were extracted from the leaf of Chamaecyparis obtusa (CLEO), indigenous to Korea, CLEO constituents were analysed, and the effects of CLEO on airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and airway inflammation (AI) were investigated in Ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma mouse model. Terpenoid components among identified CLEO constituents made up more than 80%. The CLEO-treated group in comparison to the control group showed reduced AHR, the decrease of eosinophil number in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), reduced specific anti-OVA IgE level in the serum, and a significant reduction in Th2 cytokines levels in the BALF with concentration. We concluded that CLEO have an alleviating effect on asthma-like symptoms such as AHR and AI. Further studies about antiasthmatic effect are necessary on the focus of single component of CLEO.