Study on the effect of Xanthium mongolicum Kitag. extract on allergic asthma induced by house dust mite in mice / 国际中医中药杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the effect of Xanthium mongolicum Kitag. ethanol extract (EXM) on airway inflammation induced by house dust mite (HDM) in mice with allergic asthma, and to explore the possible mechanism. Methods:The mice were randomly divided into blank group, model group, positive control group and low, medium and high dose groups, with 6 mice in each group. The low, medium and high dose groups were intragastrically administered with 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of EXM, and the positive control group was given 1.56 mg/kg salbutamol solution. Mice in the blank group and the model group were intragastrically administered with equal volume of solvent, once a day for 8 consecutive days. Except the blank group, the other groups were sensitized with HDM on the 3rd, 4th and 5th days after administration to establish asthma models. After administration, the number of eosinophils (EOS), total cells and various kinds of cells (neutrophils, macrophages, lymphocytes and EOS) in bronchial irrigation fluid (BALF) of mice were observed. The levels of serum IgE and inflammatory factors (IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 and IL-13) in BALF and lung tissue were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Pathological and inflammatory changes of bronchial smooth muscle in mice were observed by HE and PAS.Results:Compared with the model group, the number of EOS significantly decreased ( P<0.01 or P<0.05), the total cells count, macrophages, neutrophils, lymphocytes and EOS in BALF significantly decreased ( P<0.01), the content of IL-4 (142.59 ± 16.51 ng/L, 70.47 ± 20.63 ng/L vs. 212.18 ± 58.51 ng/L), IL-5 (57.49 ± 5.49 ng/L, 47.47 ± 6.30 ng/L vs. 72.65 ± 19.11 ng/L), IL-10 (98.51 ± 18.31 ng/L, 71.85 ± 9.15 ng/L vs. 120.16 ± 23.35 ng/L), IL-13 (85.81 ± 23.66 ng/L, 39.99 ± 17.37 ng/L vs. 149.07 ± 33.19 ng/L) in BALF significantly decreased ( P<0.05), and the content of IL-4 (154.55 ± 25.70 ng/L, 143.30 ± 22.19 ng/L vs. 214.68 ± 31.95 ng/L), IL-5 (87.49 ± 5.95 ng/L, 61.84 ± 8.14 ng/L vs. 97.65 ± 12.10 ng/L), IL-10 (91.28 ± 18.69 ng/L, 62.04 ± 9.39 ng/L vs. 117.80 ± 20.72 ng/L), IL-13 (196.48 ± 15.90 ng/L, 132.02 ± 6.86 ng/L vs. 238.42 ± 28.41 ng/L) in lung homogenate significantly decreased ( P<0.05), the serum IgE level in the high dose group significantly increased ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The Xanthium mongolicum Kitag. can inhibit allergic asthma induced by HDM, which may be through inhibiting the secretion of inflammatory cytokines by pulmonary macrophages.