<i>Justicia procumbens</i> Extract (DW2008) Selectively Suppresses Th2 Cytokines in Splenocytes and Ameliorates Ovalbumin-Induced Airway Inflammation in a Mouse Model of Asthma

Abstract

DW2008 is an anhydrous ethanol extract of Justicia procumbens produced by Dong-Wha Pharmaceutical, Inc., Co. as a candidate anti-asthmatic drug. In this study, DW2008 selectively reduced T helper 2 (Th2) cytokines in mouse splenocytes and ameliorated ovalbumin-induced airway inflammation by downregulating pulmonary infiltration of differential inflammatory cells and Th2 cytokines more than a decoction or ethanol extract of J. procumbens did in a mouse asthma model. DW2008 also significantly inhibited airway hyperresponsiveness and reduced the thickness of the airway epithelium. HPLC analysis showed that the major peaks (justicidin A and B) of DW2008 were higher than those of the other extracts. Justicidin A and B significantly suppressed Th2 cytokine levels in mouse spleen cells and exhibited a protective effect in ovalbumin-induced airway inflammation. Our findings indicate that DW2008 effectively inhibits allergic airway inflammatory reactions and airway hyperresponsiveness in a mouse model of asthma, suggesting its potential as an anti-asthmatic agent.

DW2008S and its major constituents from Justicia procumbens exert anti‐asthmatic effect via multitargeting activity

“…Spleen cells were collected from BALB/c mice as previously described 23. Viable spleen cells were plated at a density of 5 × 10 6  cells/mL and cotreated with 5 μg/mL concanavalin A and test drugs for 48 hours.…”

“…(HPLC) analysis HPLC analysis of DW2008S was performed as previously described 23 using an Agilent 1200 series HPLC system (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA, USA). Data were collected and processed using OpenLAB chromatography software.…”

“…In a previous study, we showed that an anhydrous ethanolic extract of Justicia procumbens (DW2008) protected against allergic asthma by reducing the expression of Th2‐type cytokines and alleviating methacholine‐induced AHR in a mouse model of ovalbumin (OVA)‐induced asthma 23. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects remain unknown.…”

“…22 In a previous study, we showed that an anhydrous ethanolic extract of Justicia procumbens (DW2008) protected against allergic asthma by reducing the expression of Th2-type cytokines and alleviating methacholine-induced AHR in a mouse model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma. 23 However, the mechanisms underlying these effects remain unknown. In this study, we prepared DW2008S powder, which has better solubility and homogeneity characteristics than DW2008 has, and investigated its anti-asthmatic effect and mechanisms of action.…”

Comparative Metabolite Profiling of Wild and Cultivated Justicia procumbens L. Based on 1H-NMR Spectroscopy and HPLC-DAD Analysis

“…The powdered ethanol extract of J. procumbens (DW2008S) is currently completing phase I clinical trials and is ready to proceed to phase II as a candidate against asthma. The extract has been shown to effectively improve Th 2 -driven airway inflammation and bronchoconstriction by inhibiting T-cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains, phosphodiesterase 4, and A 3 adenosine receptor activities [ 4 , 5 ].…”