The Protective Role of Cirsilineol against Ovalbumin-Induced Allergic Rhinitis in Mice by Suppression of Inflammation and Oxidative Stress.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common type of inflammatory disease with symptoms including rhinorrhea, fatigue, sneezing, and disturbed sleep. AR affects nearly 40% of peoples worldwide with the increased numbers of new cases. In this work, the study was conducted to disclose the anti-inflammatory and antiallergic properties of cirsilineol against the ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized AR in mice. AR was provoked in BALB/c mice through the OVA challenge 30 days along with 10 and 20 mg/kg of cirsilineol treatment. The nasal symptoms, i.e., rubbing and sneezing was monitored after the final OVA challenge. The status of OVA-specific IgE, PGD2, and LTC4 was investigated using assay kits. The status of pro-inflammatory markers also examined using assay kits. The levels of oxidative markers, SOD activity, and pro-inflammatory markers in the spleen mononuclear cells (SMEs) were studied by using respective assay kits. The mRNA expression of TXNIP was assessed using RT-PCR study. The 10 and 20 mg/kg of cirsilineol treatment effectively decreased the sneezing and nasal rubbings in OVA-provoked mice. Cirsilineol also decreased the IgE, PGD2, and LTC4 status in the AR animals. The status of pro-inflammatory markers, i.e., IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-33 and TNF-α was found to be decreased in the cirsilineol administered AR mice. Cirsilineol effectively reduced the ROS and MDA and improved SOD in the OVA-challenged SMCs. The mRNA expression of TXNIP was appreciably suppressed by the cirsilineol treatment. Altogether, these findings proved the beneficial actions of cirsilineol against the OVA-triggered AR in mice. The additional studies on the cirsilineol could lead to the development of new drug for AR management.

Isolation, identification and characterization of the nematophagous fungus Arthrobotrys (Monacrosporium) sinense from China.

With the development of anthelmintic resistance of parastic nematodes, it is necessary to isolate and study nematophagous fungi to screen out the native isolates for their potential in the biocontrol of domestic animal nematodosis. This study aimed to isolate the Arthrobotrys sinense (Monacrosporium sinense) of nematophagous fungus, to characterize representative molecular isolates using scanning electron microscope (SEM), and to determine the effect of the temperature and pH values on radial growth of the isolate. Five isolates were isolated from 1532 samples of different types, and their occurrence frequencies were 0.32% of the total samples. They were identified as A. sinense by means of morphology and the sequence of the 5.8S, 18S, and 28S rDNA, as well as internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2. The isolate NBS003 could grow from 11°C to 35°C and had optimal growth at 30°C. The isolate could grow at pH 4 to 11, and its optimal value was obtained at pH 9. SEM results showed that 6 h after their addition, the second stage larvae (L2) and the third stage infective larvae (L3) of Haemonchus contortus were captured. L2 and L3 were penetrated by the fungus at 18 and 24 h post-capture, respectively. L2 and L3 were completely digested at 84 and 90 h post-capture, respectively. The NBS003 of the A. sinense should have a certain potential to be used for capturing the free-living stage of nematodes in sheep.