National Engineering Research Center for Process Development of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China.
National Engineering Research Center for Process Development of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China; Key Laboratory for Green Pharmaceutical Technologies and Related Equipment of Ministry of Education, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2018 Jul 15;221:1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2018.04.012. Epub 2018 Apr 9.
Cassia occidentalis Linn. is a traditional ayruvedic edible shrub containing anthraquinones (AQs) as the principle active constituents. In folk medicine, it has a variety of uses including treatment of whooping cough ('pertussis') and inflammatory diseases. Despite these applications, limited data are available to validate the effects of C. occidentalis AQs on airways inflammation in asthma.
To explore the anti-inflammatory potential of AQs extracted from C. occidentalis using an in vivo model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma.
Extraction and optimization of AQs from C. occidentalis was performed by mechanochemistry. Allergic asthma in BALB/c mice was sensitized and challenged by OVA, and the effects of AQs investigated in a mouse model. OVA-specific IgE concentrations in serum, and Th1/Th2 cytokine (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and IFN-γ) concentrations, inflammatory cell counts and classification in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were determined. Histopathological evaluation of lung tissue was performed using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), and periodic acid-schiff (PAS) staining. Th1/Th2 cytokine mRNA expression was analyzed using the 2 method.
Treatment with AQs decreased inflammatory cell counts and production of Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13) in BALF, and OVA-specific IgE in serum. In contrast,Th1 cytokine IFN-γ production in BALF was promoted. AQs also decreased mRNA expression of Th1/Th2 cytokine in lung tissue. Histological studies demonstrated that AQs substantially inhibited OVA-induced cellular infiltration, mucus hypersecretion and goblet cell hyperplasia in the lung.
These findings demonstrated the inhibitory effects of AQs, derived from C. occidentalis, on OVA-induced allergic asthma in mice. The results suggest a promising ethnopharmacological use for AQs in patients with asthma.
番泻叶是一种传统的阿育吠陀药用灌木，含有蒽醌（AQs）作为主要活性成分。在民间医学中，它有多种用途，包括治疗百日咳（“百日咳”）和炎症性疾病。尽管有这些应用，但关于番泻叶 AQs 对哮喘气道炎症的影响，可用的数据有限。
用卵清蛋白（OVA）诱导的哮喘体内模型探索番泻叶 AQs 的抗炎潜力。
通过机械化学法从番泻叶中提取和优化 AQs。用 OVA 致敏和攻击 BALB/c 小鼠，建立哮喘模型，研究 AQs 的作用。检测血清中 OVA 特异性 IgE 浓度，以及 Th1/Th2 细胞因子（IL-4、IL-5、IL-13 和 IFN-γ）浓度、支气管肺泡灌洗液（BALF）中炎症细胞计数和分类。采用苏木精和伊红（H&E）、过碘酸-希夫（PAS）染色法对肺组织进行组织病理学评价。采用 2 法分析 Th1/Th2 细胞因子 mRNA 表达。
AQs 治疗降低了 BALF 中炎症细胞计数和 Th2 细胞因子（IL-4、IL-5 和 IL-13）的产生，以及血清中 OVA 特异性 IgE。相反，BALF 中 Th1 细胞因子 IFN-γ 的产生得到促进。AQs 还降低了肺组织中 Th1/Th2 细胞因子的 mRNA 表达。组织学研究表明，AQs 可显著抑制 OVA 诱导的细胞浸润、肺内粘液过度分泌和杯状细胞增生。
这些发现表明，从番泻叶中提取的 AQs 对小鼠 OVA 诱导的过敏性哮喘具有抑制作用。结果提示 AQs 在哮喘患者中具有有前途的民族药理学用途。
