Effects of inhalable microparticle of flower of Lonicera japonica in a mouse model of COPD

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology Vol. 151; no. 1; pp. 123 - 130
• Main Authors: Park, Yang-Chun, Jin, Mirim, Kim, Seung-Hyung, Kim, Min-Hee, Namgung, Uk, Yeo, Yoon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 10.01.2014
• Subjects: Animals; Cell Line; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; COPD; Flowers - chemistry; Gene Expression Regulation - drug effects; Inhalable microparticle; Interleukin-6 - genetics; Interleukin-6 - metabolism; Lonicera - chemistry; Lonicera japonica; Macrophages - drug effects; Macrophages - metabolism; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Particle Size; Powders - therapeutic use; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - drug therapy; Respiratory Therapy; Spray dryer; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - genetics; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - metabolism; CSS; PAS; FLJ; H&E; ACI; BALF; MMAD; MMPs; LPS; Lonicera japonica; SD; Spray dryer; M-T; FBS; FLJmp; Inhalable microparticle; FPF; HPLC; COPD; Masson-trichrome; bronchoalveolar fluid; flower of Lonicera japonica; fine particle fraction; high pressure liquid chromatography; cigarette smoke solution; FLJ microparticle; mass median aerodynamic diameter; matrix metalloproteinases; hematoxylin–eosin; fetal bovine serum; periodic acid-Schiff; lipopolysaccharide; Anderson cascade impactor; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; standard deviation
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2013.10.013

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Flower of Lonicera japonica (FLJ) is a traditional herbal medicine widely used in East Asia as an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative agent. The purpose of this study is to develop an inhalable powder formulation of FLJ and to evaluate its biological effects in a mouse model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Inhalable dry powder containing FLJ was produced by spray-drying with leucine as an excipient. Its aerodynamic properties and anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated using the Anderson cascade impactor (ACI) and a mouse model of COPD, respectively. FLJ microparticle (FLJmp) had a hollow spherical shape in electron microscopy and showed aerodynamic properties suitable for inhalation (fine particle fraction of 54.0±4.68% and mass median aerodynamic diameter of 4.6±0.34μm). FLJmp decreased TNF-α and IL-6 expression in RAW264.7 cells activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In mice challenged with LPS and cigarette smoke solution (CSS) to develop COPD, FLJmp decreased the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in bronchoalveolar fluidas well as the number of inflammatory cells including neutrophils in peripheral blood. In addition, FLJmp induced recovery of elastin and collagen distribution, reduction of caspase-3 expression in lung tissues of COPD mice. Inhalational delivery of FLJ using a microparticle system is a promising strategy for the treatment of COPD. [Display omitted]