Objectives
The extract of
Hizikia fusiformis
is known to exhibit anticancer, antiatopic and antioxidant activities. We aimed to investigate the extract of
H. fusiformis
on allergic rhinitis inflammation in a mouse model.
Methods
The 4-week-old BALB/c mice were randomly assigned into four groups: group A, control group (n=9); group B, allergic rhinitis group (n=10); group C (n=10) received 300 mg/kg of
H. fusiformis
during nasal challenging period; group D (n=10) received 600 mg/kg of
H. fusiformis
during general sensitization period and 300 mg/kg of
H. fusiformis
during nasal challenging period. Allergic inflammation was made with ovalbumin (OVA) and alum then challenged intranasally with OVA.
H. fusiformis
was intraperitoneally administered 3 hours before the OVA administration. Allergic symptom score and the levels of immunoglobulin G
1
(IgG
1
), IgG
2a
, OVA-specific IgE antibodies, levels of cytokines in the nasal mucosa and in spleen cell culture supernatant, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 4 (IL-4), IL-5, IL-13, and IL-10 were assessed. The percentage of regulatory T cell was analyzed by flow cytometry. Eosinophilic infiltration and goblet cell hyperplasia were also evaluated.
Results
H. fusiformis
administered groups C and D showed significant inhibitory effects on nasal symptoms, IL-13 mRNA expression and eosinophil infiltration/goblet cell hyperplasia in the nasal tissue; OVA-specific IgE production in serum (
P
<0.05). In group D,
H. fusiformis
treatment downregulated IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, TNF-α, and IL-10 cytokine expression in splenocyte culture as well as significantly decreased IgG
2a
, IgG
1
levels in serum compared with group B (
P
<0.05). However, the expressions of IL-5, interferon-γ and forkhead box P3 mRNA did not change in groups C and D.
Conclusion
H. fusiformis
could induce antiallergic inflammation by suppressing the T-helper type 2 cytokine production (IL-13) locally and systemically, OVA-specific IgE formation, goblet cell hyperplasia, and eosinophilic infiltration in a mouse model of allergic rhinitis. Thus,
H. fusiformis
could be considered as a potential therapeutic agent in treating allergic rhinitis.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.