Amelioration of Ovalbumin-Induced Allergic Asthma by via Downregulation of Inflammatory Cytokines and Upregulation of Aquaporin-1 and Aquaporin-5 in Mice.

() has been used traditionally to treat cough and asthma. The present study evaluates the immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory potential of against ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma. Intraperitoneal sensitization proceeded by intranasal challenge with OVA was used to induce allergic asthma. BALB/c mice were treated with methanol, n-hexane, and ethyl acetate extracts of and methylprednisolone one week after 2 sensitization with OVA and continued for 7 days. mRNA expression levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, AQP-1, AQP-5 TNF-, TGF-, and NF-kB were determined using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Hematoxylin and eosin, and periodic acidic-Schiff stains were used for histopathological studies of lung tissues. The data presented all three extracts of significantly ameliorated airway inflammation by reducing expression levels of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 and TNF- in OVA-treated mice. The suppression of goblet cells hyperplasia and inflammatory cells infiltration by involved low TGF- and NF-kB levels. Pretreatment with also increased the AQP-1 and AQP-5 expression levels in mice treated with OVA. This study supported the traditional use of and proposed that ameliorated allergic asthma by suppression of proinflammatory cytokines and elevation of AQP-1 and AQP-5 expression levels.