Erythronium japonicum attenuates histopathological lung abnormalities in a mouse model of ovalbumin-induced asthma

Abstract

Asthma is a chronic lung condition that can induce mucus hypersecretion and pulmonary obstruction and may even cause death, particularly in children and older individuals. Erythronium japonicum (E. japonicum) is a traditional herb used in Korea and East Asian countries that has been found to exert free radical scavenging activity and anti-proliferative effects in human colorectal carcinoma cells. In the present study, we evaluated the anti-asthmatic effects of an extract of E. japonicum in a mouse model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma. Female BALB/c mice were sensitized with an intraperitoneal injection of OVA and aluminum hydroxide hydrate on days 1 and 8 and then received the following treatments on days 21 to 25: i) control (no treatment), ii) sterilized tap water (given orally), iii) 1 mg/kg/day dexamethasone (administered orally), iv) 60 mg/kg/day E. japonicum extract, and v) 600 mg/kg/day E. japonicum extract. On the same days, all the mice except those in the control group were challenged 1 h later with nebulized 5% OVA for 30 min. We found that treatment with E. japonicum extract suppressed the OVA-induced increase in the number of white blood cells and decreased the IgE level in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples obtained from the mice. Histopathological analysis of the lung tissues revealed that E. japonicum attenuated the asthma-related morphological changes in the mouse lung tissue, including the increased secretion of mucus in the bronchioles, eosinophil infiltration around the bronchioles and vessels, and goblet cell and epithelial cell hyperplasia. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that treatment with E. japonicum extract suppressed the OVA-induced proliferation of T helper cells (CD4+) and B cells (CD19+) in the mouse lung tissue. Furthermore, treatment with E. japonicum extract modulated the expression of both T helper 2 cell-related factors [GATA binding protein 3 (GATA-3), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-6 and IL-13], as well as that of T helper 1 cell-related factors [(interferon-γ (IFN-γ), IL-12p35 and IL-12p40]. These findings suggest that E. japonicum may potentially be used as an anti-asthmatic treatment.

Effects of Pelargonium sidoides and Coptis Rhizoma 2 : 1 Mixed Formula (PS + CR) on Ovalbumin‐Induced Asthma in Mice

“…Moreover, oral treatment with PS + CR (300 and 1,000 mg/kg) inhibited the classic OVA-induced allergic and inflammatory asthmatic changes in a dose-dependent manner, which is similar to previous findings [37,38]. Erythronium japonicum reduced the number of WBC and the IgE level induced by OVA in the bronchoalveolar fluid, and Perillae Fructus suppressed lung weight, the number of inflammatory cells in the lung, and BALF [37,38]. e effect of PS + CR was compared with those of DEXA.…”

“…Effects of PS + CR were evaluated in lung weight, histomorphometrical changes of airway systems with cytokine changes, and cellular components (recruitment of eosinophils and neutrophils) of BALF, lung, and/or peripheral blood [20,21]. Moreover, oral treatment with PS + CR (300 and 1,000 mg/kg) inhibited the classic OVA-induced allergic and inflammatory asthmatic changes in a dose-dependent manner, which is similar to previous findings [37,38]. Erythronium japonicum reduced the number of WBC and the IgE level induced by OVA in the bronchoalveolar fluid, and Perillae Fructus suppressed lung weight, the number of inflammatory cells in the lung, and BALF [37,38].…”

Protective Effects of Erythronium Japonicum and Corylopsis Coreana Uyeki Extracts Against 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol-induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats

“…It has been suggested that chlorogenic acid from E. japonicum is a candidate compound with protective function against oxidative stress-induced hepatotoxicity (Seo et al, 2016). Four marker compounds from C. coreana Uyeki have been identi ed: bergenin (17.5%, w/w); isosalipurposide (8.6%, w/w); quercitrin (1.6%, w/w); and quercetin (0.05%, w/w).…”

The Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Fermented Herbal Roots of Asparagus cochinchinensis in an Ovalbumin-Induced Asthma Model

“…Among various Th2 cytokines, IL-4 has multiple immunological effects, including promotion of Th2 lineage differentiation, regulation of Ig class switching, and stimulation of mast cell proliferation [ 36 ]. Therefore, IgE and IL-4 levels are reportedly higher in OVA-induced asthma model mice than in normal controls [ 11 ]. These levels decreased significantly after treatment with fermented Artemisia princeps and EM-X, although there were some differences in the decrease ratio [ 30 , 31 ].…”

“…Therefore, recent studies have focused on identifying natural products with pharmacologically active ingredients to provide new remedies without unwanted side effects [ 9 ]. Several extracts of natural herbs, including Samsoeum [ 10 ], Erythronium japonicum in East Asia [ 11 ], Trigonella foenum-graecum in Central Asia and Eastern Europe [ 12 ], Echinodorus scaber Rataj in the western hemisphere [ 13 ], and Urtica dioica in Asia, Europe, Africa, and Americas [ 14 ], attenuate airway inflammation of allergic asthma in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced model. However, fermented natural herbs have exclusively been investigated for their therapeutic effect in an asthma model, despite enhancing the levels of functional components, breakdown of substances, and chemical transformations of certain constituents [ 15 ].…”