ovalbumin and oxymatrine

The aim of the study was to investigate the anti-asthmatic effects of oxymatrine (OXY) and the possible underlying mechanisms. The mouse asthma model was established by ovalbumin (OVA) intraperitoneal injection. A total of fifty mice were randomly assigned to five groups: control, OVA, OVA + dexamethasone (Dex, 2 mg · kg(-1)), and OVA + OXY (40 mg · kg(-1)), and OVA + OXY (80 mg · kg(-1)), respectively. Histological studies were conducted by the hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, the levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-5 (IL-5), interleukin-13, and IgE were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the protein level of CD40 was analyzed by Western blotting. OXY inhibited OVA-induced increases in eosinophil count; the levels of IL-4, IL-5, IgE, and IL-13 were recovered. It also substantially inhibited OVA-induced eosinophilia in lung tissues and the expression of CD40 protein. These findings suggest that OXY may effectively ameliorate the progression of asthma and could be explored as a possible therapy for patients with allergic asthma.

Topics: Alkaloids; Animals; Anti-Asthmatic Agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Asthma; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; CD40 Antigens; Dexamethasone; Disease Models, Animal; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Immunoglobulin E; Interleukins; Irritants; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Ovalbumin; Pulmonary Eosinophilia; Quinolizines; Random Allocation; Signal Transduction