ovalbumin and fucoxanthin

This study aimed to determine whether fucoxanthin alleviated ovalbumin (OVA)-induced food allergy (FA) and explored the possible mechanisms. The results indicated that supplementation with fucoxanthin at 10.0-20.0 mg/kg per day for 7 weeks inhibited food anaphylaxis and the production of immunoglobulin (Ig) E, IgG, histamine, and related cytokines while alleviating allergic symptoms in sensitized mice. Fucoxanthin enhanced the intestinal epithelial barrier by up-regulating tight junction (TJ) protein expression and promoting regenerating islet-derived protein III-gamma (RegIIIγ) and secretory IgA (sIgA) secretion. In addition, fucoxanthin induced the secretion of anti-inflammatory factors (interleukin (IL)-10 and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β)) by regulatory T (Treg) cells and decreased the pro-inflammatory factor levels (IL-4, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-17, and IL-1β), ameliorating intestinal inflammation. Compared with the model group, beneficial bacteria, such as Lactobacillaceae, increased in the intestinal flora, while pathogenic bacteria like Helicobacteraceae, Desulfovibrionaceae, and Streptococcaceae decreased. Therefore, fucoxanthin may effectively prevent FA by enhancing the intestinal epithelial barrier and reshaping the intestinal flora.

Topics: Animals; Cytokines; Disease Models, Animal; Food Hypersensitivity; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Immunoglobulin E; Intestinal Mucosa; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Ovalbumin; Xanthophylls

Asthma has affected more than 300 million people worldwide and is considered one of the most debilitating global public health problems based on a recent statistical report from the Global Initiative for Asthma. Inflammation of the airways leads to the various interrelated mechanisms of innate and adaptive immunity acting mutually with the epithelium of the respiratory organ. Fucoxanthin is an orange or brown pigment which is naturally found in various seaweeds. To the best of our knowledge, there are no scientific claims or evidence of the curative effects of fucoxanthin against asthma. Hence, this present research was designed to investigate the curative activity of fucoxanthin against ovalbumin-induced asthma in a mouse model. Fucoxanthin (50 mg/kg) showed significant (P < 0.001) antiasthma activity. It effectively decreased intracellular secretion of reactive oxygen species and increased antioxidant enzyme activity. Fucoxanthin also decreased inflammatory cytokine markers in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Because fucoxanthin showed effective antiasthma activity against ovalbumin-induced asthma in experimental animals, further research on this natural antioxidant could lead to development of a novel drug for the treatment of asthma in humans.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Asthmatic Agents; Antioxidants; Asthma; Biomarkers; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; Cytokines; Inflammation; Male; Mice; Ovalbumin; Reactive Oxygen Species; Xanthophylls

Allergic rhinitis is a sensitivity to allergens that causes swelling or puffiness of the nasal airways. The occurrence of allergic rhinitis is mounting worldwide. We examined whether fucoxanthin restrains the development of allergic rhinitis provoked by ovalbumin (OVA). In this study, allergic rhinitis in male BALB/c mice was induced with OVA. The object was to evaluate the effect of fucoxanthin on consequently allergic mice. Allergic responses like rubbing and sneezing were scored to reveal the effect of fucoxanthin in the induced and treated groups. Mean histological scores demonstrated variation in and between OVA-induced and fucoxanthin-treated groups in terms of ciliary loss, eosinophil infiltration, and the like. Lipid profiling (malondialdehyde) confirmed the restraining effect of fucoxanthin on allergic rhinitis. The present study showed that cytokine production, the induction of cell survival molecule NF-κB p65, and subsequent prevention of IκBα phosphorylation are controlled by fucoxanthin, and that interleukins (IL-5, IL-6, and IL-12) support STAT-3 binding to key elements that control IL-17A expression. Additionally, the study showed that interleukin-induced NF-κB and IκBα directly regulate interleukins in collaboration with STAT-3 and related cytokines. Levels of IgE and histamine are the most frequent medications used to treat allergic rhinitis. Considering our findings, we concluded that fucoxanthin represses the development of allergic rhinitis induced by OVA and thus might be a positive drug for its management.

Topics: Animals; Cytokines; Disease Models, Animal; Interleukin-17; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Ovalbumin; Protective Agents; Rhinitis, Allergic; Signal Transduction; STAT3 Transcription Factor; Transcription Factor RelA; Xanthophylls