Antiviral activity of an aqueous extract derived from Aloe arborescens Mill. against a broad panel of viruses causing infections of the upper respiratory tract.

BACKGROUND: A number of antiviral therapies have evolved that may be effectively administered to treat respiratory viral diseases. But these therapies are very often of limited efficacy or have severe side effects. Therefore there is great interest in developing new efficacious and safe antiviral compounds e.g. based on the identification of compounds of herbal origin. HYPOTHESIS: Since an aqueous extract of Aloe arborescens Mill. shows antiviral activity against viruses causing infections of the upper respiratory tract in vitro we hypothesised that a product containing it such as Biaron C(®) could have an antiviral activity too. STUDY DESIGN: Antiviral activity of Bioaron C(®), an herbal medicinal product consisting of an aqueous extract of Aloe arborescens Mill., Vitamin C, and Aronia melanocarpa Elliot. succus, added as an excipient, was tested in vitro against a broad panel of viruses involved in upper respiratory tract infections. METHODS: These studies included human adenovirus and several RNA viruses and were performed either with plaque reduction assays or with tests for the detection of a virus-caused cytopathic effect. RESULTS: Our studies demonstrated an impressive activity of Bioaron C(®) against members of the orthomyxoviridae - influenza A and influenza B viruses. Replication of both analysed influenza A virus strains - H1N1 and H3N2 - as well as replication of two analysed influenza B viruses - strains Yamagatal and Beiying - was significantly reduced after addition of Bioaron C(®) to the infected cell cultures. In contrast antiviral activity of Bioaron C(®) against other RNA viruses showed a heterogeneous pattern. Bioaron C(®) inhibited the replication of human rhinovirus and coxsackievirus, both viruses belonging to the family of picornaviridae and both representing non-enveloped RNA viruses. In vitro infections with respiratory syncytial virus and parainfluenza virus, both belonging to the paramyxoviridae, were only poorly blocked by the test substance. No antiviral activity of Bioaron C(®) was detected against adenovirus - a non-enveloped DNA virus. CONCLUSIONS: These results represent the first proof of a selective antiviral activity of Bioaron C(®) against influenza viruses and create basis for further analyses of type and molecular mechanisms of the antiviral activity of this herbal medicine.

[Influence of long-term low molecular weight heparin nebulization on selected clinical parameters and course of allergic inflammation in patients with bronchial asthma]. / Wplyw heparyny niskoczasteczkowej w przewleklej nebulizacji na wybrane parametry kliniczne i przebieg zapalenia alergicznego u pacjentów z astma oskrzelowa.

Bronchial asthma is a chronic condition with an inflammatory background--allergic inflammation. In recent years several observations have been published documenting activity of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) in chronic inflammatory diseases of respiratory tract. This study was set up to evaluate the effect of nebulized LMWH on spirometric parameters and selected markers of allergic inflammation in bronchial asthma. Twenty patients diagnosed with mild or moderate asthma entered the study. At the beginning and at the end of the experiment every patient underwent bronchoscopy with BAL and in 15 of them bronchial biopsy was performed. Blood was drawn for ECP evaluation. LMWH was administered in nebulization in a dose 5000 U Xa/day for two weeks. BALf cellularity was evaluated as well as BALf IL-5 concentration. Further ELAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression in bronchial mucosa was examined in immunohistochemistry. We demonstrated that heparin treatment significantly enhanced FEV1 from 76.02 +/- 21.7% nominate value before to 92.4 +/- 21.8% after treatment (p < 0.005). Cellular profile of BALf changed, showing significant drop in percentages of eosinophils--from 7% to 6% (p < 0.05), macrophages--38 to 32% (p < 0.05) and neutrophils--32 to 28% (p < 0.05). Surprisingly we did not notice any change in ECP concentration in blood serum or IL-5 in BALf. Also adhesion molecules expression in bronchial mucosa remained unchanged. We conclude that chronic LMWH nebulization is a valuable treatment ameliorating asthmatic condition clearly due to anti-inflammatory properties of heparin. Both dose of LMWH used and the time of therapy have to be further investigated in order to develop treatment able to influence more of the elements of allergic inflammation.

[Evaluation of effectiveness and safety of three year immunotherapy with mixed grass pollen allergens]. / Ocena skutecznosci klinicznej i bezpieczenstwa trzyletniej immunoterapii mieszanka alergenów pylków traw.

BACKGROUND: Specific immunotherapy (SIT) is probably the only causative treatment in allergic diseases including pollinosis. It is capable of changing the natural history of the disease. GOAL: Present study has been designed to estimate the effectiveness and safety of multi-seasonal immunotherapy with grass-pollen-allergoid-containing vaccines. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty seven patients with pollinosis entered the study. They were randomly assigned to two groups receiving two different but absolutely comparable vaccines (Allergovit, Pollinex). Cards of patient's self-evaluation (including nasal, eye and bronchial symptoms) as well as anti-allergic drug consumption were evaluated. RESULTS: Significant amelioration of symptoms was noticed already after first season of SIT 3.4 +/- 0.29 vs 7.54 +/- 0.35 points before SIT (control)(p < 0.05). The respective value after third SIT was 2.1 +/- 0.26 (p < 0.001). Also anti-allergic drug consumption felt from 2.12 +/- 0.12 points before SIT to 0.86 +/- 0.11 and 0.37 +/- 0.11 after first and third SIT, respectively (p < 0.001 and p < 0.00005). Few side reactions were observed, only one mild systemic reaction. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms that pre-seasonal SIT is a clinically effective and safe therapeutic method in patients with pollinosis. It's effect seems to be time-related.

[Peripheral blood eosinophilia in patients with bronchial asthma before and after bronchial provocation]. / Eozynofilia krwi obwodowej u chorych na astme oskrzelowa przed i po swoistej prowokacji oskrzeli.

The study was set up in order to check the usefulness of peripheral blood eosinophilia in asthma diagnosis and asthma therapy monitoring. Twenty mild asthmatics entered the study--ten atopic and ten nonatopic. Eosinophilia was estimated twice: on the day of admission and twenty four hours after bronchial provocation. Bronchial hyperreactivity was measured on both occasions. We showed, that there was no difference in eosinophilia between atopic and nonatopic subjects before provocation but the difference was significant 24 hrs after provocation. In both groups of asthmatics eosinophilia correlated with bronchial hyperreactivity before and after provocation. We concluded, that eosinophilia is an easy and valuable parameter in monitoring the degree of allergic inflammation in asthmatics.

[Evaluation of allergic inflammation parameters in bronchoalveolar lavage in patients with asthma]. / Ocena parametrów zapalenia alergicznego w popluczynach oskrzelowych u chorych na astme.

The study was set up to evaluate the changes in broncho-alveolar lavage cell-count in asthmatics after bronchial provocation. Similarities and differences between atopic (A) and nonatopic (N) asthma were given a special concern. Twenty mild asthmatics--10 A and 10 N. There was no difference in BAL eosinophila between these groups before provocation. After provocation more eosinophils were found in A group (p = 0.06). Neutrophils were more numerous in N on both occasions--0 = 0.00003 and p = 0.006 respectively). Lymphocytes showed a similar pattern--p = 0.03, p = 0.003. A positive correlation between BAL eosinophilia and bronchial hyperreactivity was shown in both groups. Inflammation, including inflammatory cells plays a major role in bronchial asthma pathophysiology. It seems to be more expressed in nonatopic patients.

[Allergic bronchitis in bronchial asthma]. / Zapalenie alergiczne w astmie oskrzelowej.

Asthma was known already in ancient times. International Consensus Report on Diagnosis and Management of Asthma published in 1993 gives its updated definition, classification and treatment, but pathomechanism and pathophysiological differences between atopic and non-atopic asthma remain unclear. Most commonly accepted is the inflammatory conception of asthma presented by Kay in 1983. Eosinophil, lymphocyte and their products seem to play an important role in allergic inflammation. A raise of interest toward adhesion molecules role has been observed lately.