Anti-asthmatic effect of Sanguisorba officinalis L. and potential role of heme oxygenase-1 in an ovalbumin-induced murine asthma model

Int J Mol Med. 2010 Aug;26(2):201-8. doi: 10.3892/ijmm_00000453.

Abstract

Sanguisorba officinalis L. is known to have anti-inflammatory properties. However, the potential effects of S. officinalis against asthma have not been reported. In the present study, we investigated the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of S. officinalis in a murine ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma model. Mice were sensitized and challenged by OVA inhalation to induce airway inflammation and remodeling. S. officinalis ethanolic extract (SOEE) markedly decreased the number of infiltrated inflammatory cells, together with a reduction in the levels of T-helper type 2 cytokines and immunoglobulin E levels. Histopathological studies showed that inflammatory cell infiltration and mucus hypersecretion were inhibited by SOEE. In addition, OVA-induced increases in reactive oxygen species were attenuated by SOEE. All these effects were correlated with heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) induction by SOEE. These results indicate that SOEE has therapeutic potential against bronchial asthma associated with allergic diseases that is due, at least in part, to HO-1 upregulation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents* / pharmacology
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Asthma / chemically induced
  • Asthma / drug therapy
  • Asthma / metabolism*
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / chemistry
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Heme Oxygenase-1 / metabolism*
  • Histocytochemistry
  • Immunoglobulin E / metabolism
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mucus / metabolism
  • Neutrophil Infiltration / drug effects
  • Ovalbumin / adverse effects
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Plant Extracts* / pharmacology
  • Plant Extracts* / therapeutic use
  • Plant Roots / chemistry
  • Pulmonary Eosinophilia / metabolism
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Sanguisorba / chemistry*
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects*

Substances

  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents
  • Cytokines
  • Plant Extracts
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Immunoglobulin E
  • Ovalbumin
  • Heme Oxygenase-1