Ocimum gratissimum Linn. and rosmarinic acid, attenuate eosinophilic airway inflammation in an experimental model of respiratory allergy to Blomia tropicalis

• Published in: International immunopharmacology Vol. 13; no. 1; pp. 126 - 134
• Main Authors: Costa, Ryan Santos, Carneiro, Tamires Cana Brasil, Cerqueira-Lima, Ana Tereza, Queiroz, Norma Vilany, Alcântara-Neves, Neuza Maria, Pontes-de-Carvalho, Lain Carlos, Velozo, Eudes da Silva, Oliveira, Eduardo Jesus, Figueiredo, Camila Alexandrina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 01.05.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Allergens; Alveoli; Animal models; Animals; Asthma; Biological and medical sciences; Blomia tropicalis; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - cytology; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - immunology; Bronchus; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma; Cinnamates - administration & dosage; Cinnamates - isolation & purification; Cinnamates - therapeutic use; Depsides - administration & dosage; Depsides - isolation & purification; Depsides - therapeutic use; Disease Models, Animal; Drugs; Eosinophil Peroxidase - metabolism; Eosinophils - drug effects; Eosinophils - enzymology; Eosinophils - immunology; Herbal medicines; Hypersensitivity; Immunologic Factors - administration & dosage; Immunologic Factors - isolation & purification; Immunologic Factors - therapeutic use; Immunomodulation; Inflammation; Inflammatory diseases; Interleukin 4; Interleukin-4 - immunology; Leukocytes (eosinophilic); Lung; Lung - drug effects; Lung - immunology; Lung - pathology; Male; Medical sciences; Medicinal plants; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Mucus; Ocimum - chemistry; Ocimum gratissimum; Peroxidase; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Plant Extracts - administration & dosage; Plant Extracts - isolation & purification; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; Pneumology; Polyphenols; Public health; Respiratory Hypersensitivity - drug therapy; Respiratory Hypersensitivity - immunology; Respiratory Hypersensitivity - pathology; Respiratory Mucosa - immunology; Respiratory tract; Respiratory tract diseases; Rosmarinic Acid; Sarcoptidae - immunology; Side effects; Urban populations; Polyphenols; Rosmarinic acid; Inflammation; Blomia tropicalis; Ocimum gratissimum; Asthma; Immunopathology; Lung disease; Allergy; Ocimum; Respiratory disease; Respiratory system; Eosinophil; Respiratory tract; Polyphenol; Acids; Labiatae; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Phenols; Bronchus disease; Spermatophyta; Models; Obstructive pulmonary disease
• ISSN: 1567-5769; 1878-1705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2012.03.012

Allergic asthma has emerged as an important public health problem of urban populations in developed countries. Very often herbal medicine is used to treat this widespread disease, due to the lack of efficacy and the important side effects related to the classical drugs in use. Along this line, Ocimum gratissimum (Og) is a plant widely used in Brazilian folk medicine to treat inflammatory disorders, such as asthma. In the present study we evaluated the immunomodulatory effects of Og and rosmarinic acid (RA, a polyphenolic compound) in a murine model of respiratory allergy induced by the Blomia tropicalis (Bt) mite. The respiratory allergy was induced in A/J mice by administration of Bt extract and the treatment was done using 25, 50 or 100mg/kg of an Og methanolic extract or using 2, 20 or 200mg/kg of RA. We then evaluated the changes induced by these drugs on immunological parameters related to the allergic process, which are up-regulated in this allergic model. The treatment of animals with 100mg/Kg Og and 200mg/Kg RA led to a significant reduction in the numbers of leukocytes/eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL); eosinophil peroxidase activity in BAL; presence of mucus in respiratory tract, histopathological changes in the lung, and IL-4 in BAL. These results suggest that the methanolic extract of Og and the polyphenol RA have therapeutic potential in this murine model of respiratory allergy to a clinically relevant human sensitizer allergen. [Display omitted] ► RA and Og modulate leukocytes/eosinophils migration to the lungs. ► RA and Og reduce mucus production on allergic animals. ► RA and Og suppress pro-inflammatory molecules such EPO and IL-4. ► RA and Og have a therapeutic potential in a murine model of respiratory allergy.