TY - JOUR
T1 - Pharmacology and immunological actions of a herbal medicine ASHMI™ on allergic asthma
AU - Zhang, Tengfei
AU - Srivastava, Kamal
AU - Wen, Ming Chun
AU - Yang, Nan
AU - Cao, Jing
AU - Busse, Paula
AU - Birmingham, Neil
AU - Goldfarb, Joseph
AU - Li, Xiu Min
PY - 2010/7
Y1 - 2010/7
N2 - Allergic asthma is a chronic and progressive inflammatory disease for which there is no satisfactory treatment. Studies reported tolerability and efficacy of an anti-asthma herbal medicine intervention (ASHMI) for asthma patients, developed from traditional Chinese medicine. To investigate the pharmacological actions of ASHMI on early- and late-phase airway responses (EAR and LAR), Ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized mice received 6 weeks of ASHMI treatment beginning 24 h following the first intratracheal OVA challenge. EAR were determined 30 min following the fourth challenge and LAR 48 h following the last challenge. ASHMI effects on cytokine secretion, murine tracheal ring contraction and human bronchial smooth muscle cell prostaglandin (PG) production were also determined. ASHMI abolished EAR, which was associated with significantly reduced histamine, leukotriene C4, and OVA-specific IgE levels, as well as LAR, which was associated with significantly reduced bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) eosinophils, decreased airway remodeling, and lower Th2 cytokine levels in BALF and splenocyte cultures. Furthermore, ASHMI inhibited contraction of murine tracheal rings and increased production of the potent smooth muscle relaxer PGI2. ASHMI abrogation of allergic airway responses is associated with broad effects on asthma pathological mechanisms.
AB - Allergic asthma is a chronic and progressive inflammatory disease for which there is no satisfactory treatment. Studies reported tolerability and efficacy of an anti-asthma herbal medicine intervention (ASHMI) for asthma patients, developed from traditional Chinese medicine. To investigate the pharmacological actions of ASHMI on early- and late-phase airway responses (EAR and LAR), Ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized mice received 6 weeks of ASHMI treatment beginning 24 h following the first intratracheal OVA challenge. EAR were determined 30 min following the fourth challenge and LAR 48 h following the last challenge. ASHMI effects on cytokine secretion, murine tracheal ring contraction and human bronchial smooth muscle cell prostaglandin (PG) production were also determined. ASHMI abolished EAR, which was associated with significantly reduced histamine, leukotriene C4, and OVA-specific IgE levels, as well as LAR, which was associated with significantly reduced bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) eosinophils, decreased airway remodeling, and lower Th2 cytokine levels in BALF and splenocyte cultures. Furthermore, ASHMI inhibited contraction of murine tracheal rings and increased production of the potent smooth muscle relaxer PGI2. ASHMI abrogation of allergic airway responses is associated with broad effects on asthma pathological mechanisms.
KW - Airway hyperreactivity
KW - Allergic asthma
KW - Th2 cytokines and airway smooth muscle contractility
KW - Traditional Chinese herbal medicine
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77954496066&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/ptr.3077
DO - 10.1002/ptr.3077
M3 - Article
C2 - 19998324
AN - SCOPUS:77954496066
SN - 0951-418X
VL - 24
SP - 1047
EP - 1055
JO - Phytotherapy Research
JF - Phytotherapy Research
IS - 7
ER -