Kochia scoparia fruit attenuates allergic airway inflammation in ovalbumin (OVA)-induced murine asthma model

Inhal Toxicol. 2011 Dec;23(14):938-46. doi: 10.3109/08958378.2011.627392.

Abstract

Kochia scoparia fruit has been used in Asia for a long time. It possesses anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, and antipruritic actions. We investigated the role of a K. scoparia fruit ethanolic extract (KSEE) in allergic airway inflammation in a mouse asthma model. BALB/c mice were sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA) and, upon OVA aerosol challenge, developed airway eosinophilia, mucus hypersecretion, elevations in cytokine, chemokine, and immunoglobulin levels, and upregulation of MMP-9, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression. Intragastric administration of KSEE significantly attenuated OVA-induced influx of total leukocytes, eosinophils, neutrophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes into lungs, as well as attenuating levels of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5 in a dose-dependent manner. KSEE also significantly reduced the serum levels of total and OVA-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)E and OVA-specific IgG1 release into the airspace. Histological studies showed that KSEE inhibited OVA-induced lung tissue eosinophilia and airway mucus production. Moreover, in whole lung tissue lysates, immunoreactivity showed that KSEE markedly attenuated the OVA-induced increase in expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and MMP-9. These results show that KSEE possesses protective effects against allergic airway inflammation, acts as an MMP-9 inhibitor, and induces a reduction in ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Asthma / drug therapy*
  • Asthma / metabolism
  • Bassia scoparia*
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / chemistry
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / cytology
  • Cell Count
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Fruit / chemistry*
  • Immunoglobulin E / metabolism
  • Immunoglobulin G / metabolism
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-4 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-5 / metabolism
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Ovalbumin
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*
  • Pneumonia / drug therapy*
  • Pneumonia / metabolism
  • Pneumonia / pathology
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / metabolism

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Icam1 protein, mouse
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Interleukin-5
  • Plant Extracts
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1
  • Interleukin-4
  • Immunoglobulin E
  • Ovalbumin
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9
  • Mmp9 protein, mouse