Effects of Scutellaria baicalensis Extract on Cigarette Smoke-Induced Airway Inflammation in a Murine Model of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

J Med Food. 2019 Jan;22(1):87-96. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2018.4200. Epub 2019 Jan 7.

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including pulmonary emphysema and chronic bronchitis as well as structural and inflammatory changes in small airways, is insensitive to corticosteroid therapies. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Scutellaria baicalensis root extract (SB_E) in a mouse model of COPD. The COPD mouse model was produced by challenging C57BL/6 mice with a cigarette smoke extract and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). SB_E significantly decreased the neutrophil counts in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-17A, macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP2), and chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (CXCL-1) in BALF, and TNF-α mRNA expression in lung tissue. The histological lung injury was also alleviated by treatment with SB_E. Thus, SB_E effectively inhibited airway inflammation by regulating the expression of inflammatory cytokines by blocking MIP2 and CXCL-1 secretion. Therefore, S. baicalensis may be a potential therapeutic agent for COPD.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chemokine CXCL2 / metabolism
  • Chemokines, C / metabolism
  • Inflammation / blood
  • Inflammation / drug therapy*
  • Inflammation / etiology
  • Interleukin-17 / metabolism
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Lung / drug effects*
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Lung / pathology
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Neutrophils / metabolism
  • Phytotherapy*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / complications*
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / metabolism
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / pathology
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Scutellaria baicalensis*
  • Smoke / adverse effects*
  • Tobacco Products
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • Chemokine CXCL2
  • Chemokines, C
  • Cxcl2 protein, mouse
  • Interleukin-17
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Plant Extracts
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Scutellaria baicalensis extract
  • Smoke
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Xcl1 protein, mouse