Alnus hirsuta (Spach) Rupr. Attenuates Airway Inflammation and Mucus Overproduction in a Murine Model of Ovalbumin-Challenged Asthma

Abstract

Alnus hirsuta (Spach) Rupr. (AH), a member of the Betulaceae family, is widely used in Eastern Asia of as a source of medicinal compounds for the treatment of hemorrhage, diarrhea, and alcoholism. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of a methanolic extract of AH branches against airway inflammation and mucus production in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-stimulated NCI-H292 cells and in an ovalbumin (OVA)-challenged allergic asthma mouse model. Female BALB/c mice were injected with OVA (40 μg) and aluminum hydroxide (2 mg) on days 0 and 14 to induce allergic airway inflammation. The mice were then challenged with 1% OVA from days 21–23. Mice were treated with AH (50 and 100 mg/kg/day; 2% DMSO) or dexamethasone (positive control; 3 mg/kg/day) from days 18–23. AH treatment effectively attenuated airway resistance/hyperresponsiveness and reduced levels of T helper type 2 (Th2) cytokines, eotaxins, and number of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and immunoglobulin E in serums of OVA-challenged mice. In histological analysis, AH treatment significantly inhibited airway inflammation and mucus production in OVA-challenged mice. AH treatment downregulated the phosphorylation of I kappa B-alpha, p65 nuclear factor-kappa B (p65NF-κB), and mitogen-activated protein kinases with suppression of mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) in lung tissue. Moreover, AH treatment decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and Th2 cytokines, as well as MUC5AC expression, and inhibited the phosphorylation of p65NF-κB in TNF-α-stimulated NCI-H292 cells. These results indicate that AH might represent a useful therapeutic agent for the treatment of allergic asthma.

Spectrum-effect relationship between HPLC fingerprints and inhibitory activity in MUC5AC mucin of Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum Cum Alumine

“…In addition, PLS-DA showed that peaks 5, 6, 10 (vernine), 12 (5-hydroxymethylfurfural), 14 (tryptophan) and 15 (adenosine) in the fingerprints were closely related to the inhibitory effect on MUC5AC mucin production, and could provide pharmacodynamic evaluation indicators for resolving the phlegm effect of PRPCA. NCI-H292 cells, a human airway mucussecreting epithelial cell line, provide a model system for studying lung and bronchial mucus hypersecretion diseases [14,15]. LPS stimulation significantly increases the expression of mucin in NCI-H292 cells, which can be used in the preparation of mucus hypersecretion models to evaluate its inhibitory effect on mucin production [16].…”

“…(3), tyrosine (4), uracil (7), adenine (8), inosine (9), vernine (10), 5hydroxymethylfurfural (12), tryptophan (14), and adenosine (15). The similarity values and common peak areas of 20 PRPCA batches are presented in Tables 1 and 2, respectively.…”

The miR‐124‐3p regulates the allergic airway inflammation and remodeling in an ovalbumin‐asthmatic mouse model by inhibiting S100A4

“…Sensitization 20 : Mice, except those in the sham group (receiving an equal volume of phosphate‐buffered saline [PBS]), were injected intraperitoneally with 40 μg of OVA (O1641, Sigma) and 2 mg PBS (Hyclone) containing 10% aluminum hydroxide (Aladdin) on Days 0, 7, and 14.…”

An Updated Comprehensive Review of Plants and Herbal Compounds with Antiasthmatic Effect

“…In Eastern Asia, alcoholism, diarrhea, and hemorrhage are treated with compounds derived from this member of the Betulaceae family. Using an ovalbumin-induced murine asthma model to compare Alnus hirsuta with dexamethasone (3 mg/kg), Lee et al found that this plant alleviates mucus overproduction and airway infammation at the concentration of 50 mg/kg [153].…”