The potential use of Chinese herbal medicines in treating allergic asthma

Objective: To discuss the potential use of the Chinese herbal formula MSSM-002 in treating asthma based on its effects on a murine model of allergic asthma, immunoregulatory actions on T_H2 cells in vitro, and the means of standardization for herbal formula quality control. Data Sources: Information presented at the 2002 American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting International Symposium on Complementary Alternative Medicine in San Antonio, TX. Study Selection: All presentations from the ACAAI meeting that discussed MSSM-002 were considered for this review. Results: The Chinese herbal formula MSSM-002 suppressed airway hyperreactivity and eosinophilic inflammation in a murine model of allergic asthma. These effects were comparable to dexamethasone but were not accompanied by the suppression of T_H1 responses seen with dexamethasone. In vitro studies demonstrated that MSSM-002 significantly decreased antigen-induced T_H2 cytokine secretion by murine T_H2 polarized splenocytes and human mucosal T_H2 cell lines, which in contrast to dexamethasone did not cause apoptosis and was not cytotoxic but was associated with decreased GATA-3 expression. Chromatographic fingerprints of MSSM-002 and evaluation of in vivo actions showed that the quality of several batches of MSSM-002 was consistent. Conclusion: MSSM-002 has a therapeutic effect on allergic asthma and immunoregulatory actions on established T_H2 cells and may prove to be of potential clinical benefit to asthma patients.