3-carene supresses inflammatory cytokine interleukin-4, interleukin-5 and interleukin-13 in a murine model of asthma

J Physiol Pharmacol. 2024 Apr;75(2):195-203. doi: 10.26402/jpp.2024.2.08. Epub 2024 May 6.

Abstract

Asthma is a common airway disease associated with allergic inflammation. Environmental factors, such as pollens, pollution, insect-borne antigens, or commercial chemicals, cause this disease. The common symptoms of this airway allergic reaction are increasing mucus, narrowing of the airway wall, coughing, and chest tightness. Medications, such as steroids, alleviate the disease but with severe side effects. Several studies have reported the anti-inflammatory effects of tree-based essential oil components, particularly 3-carene. Therefore, this study used 3-carene to determine if it alleviates asthmatic symptoms in the murine model. First, BALB/c mice were sensitized to an ovalbumin and aluminium hydroxide mixture on day 7th and 14th. From days 21st to 23rd, the mice were challenged with 3-carene and budesonide. The lung trachea, plasma, and bronchiolar lavage fluid (BAL fluid) were collected on day 24. The 3-carene treatment suppressed the cytokine gene expression, such as interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5, and IL-13, reducing the lung epithelial cell thickness in the asthmatic model. These results suggest that essential oil 3-carene has an anti-asthmatic effect.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Asthma* / drug therapy
  • Asthma* / pathology
  • Bicyclic Monoterpenes* / pharmacology
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / cytology
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / immunology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Interleukin-13* / metabolism
  • Interleukin-4* / metabolism
  • Interleukin-5* / metabolism
  • Lung / drug effects
  • Lung / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Ovalbumin

Substances

  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Interleukin-13
  • Interleukin-4
  • Interleukin-5
  • Ovalbumin
  • 3-carene
  • Bicyclic Monoterpenes