astaxanthine and Asthma

Although astaxanthin has a variety of biological activities such as anti-oxidant effects, inhibitory effects on skin deterioration and anti-inflammatory effects, its effect on asthma has not been studied. In this paper, the inhibitory effect of astaxanthin on airway inflammation in a mouse model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma was investigated. We evaluated the number of total cells, Th1/2 mediated inflammatory cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and airway hyperresponsiveness as well as histological structure. The level of total IgE, IgG1, IgG2a, OVA-specific IgG1, and OVA-specific IgG2a were also examined. The oral administration of 50 mg/mL astaxanthin inhibited the respiratory system resistance, elastance, newtonian resistance, tissue damping, and tissue elastance. Also, astaxanthin suppressed the total cell number, IL-4, and IL-5, and increased the IFN-γ in the BALF. In the sera, total IgE, IgG1, and OVA-specific IgG1 were reduced by astaxanthin exposure and IgG2a and OVA-specific IgG2a were enhanced via oral administration of astaxanthin. Infiltration of inflammatory cells in the lung, production of mucus, lung fibrosis, and expression of caspase-1 or caspase-3 were suppressed in OVA-induced asthmatic animal treated with astaxanthin. These results suggest that astaxanthin may have therapeutic potential for treating asthma via inhibiting Th2-mediated cytokine and enhancing Th1-mediated cytokine.

Topics: Animals; Asthma; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; Cytokines; Disease Models, Animal; Immunoglobulin E; Mice; Ovalbumin; Protective Agents; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer; Xanthophylls

Novel strategies are evaluated for management of allergic rhinitis and asthma in patients co-afflicted with both disorders. It is hypothesized that the platelet activating factor receptor antagonist ginkgolide B (GB) and the carotenoid antioxidant astaxanthin (ASX) interact with antihistamines cetirizine dihydrochloride (CTZ) and azelastine (AZE) to potentiate their ability to downregulate potentially pathological immune activation. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from asthmatics and healthy subjects, cultured 24 hours with 50 μg/ml phytohemaglutinin (PHA) or PHA plus each drug are analyzed by flow cytometry for expression of CD25+ or HLA-DR+ by CD3+ (T cells). Results are reported as stimulation indices for CD3+CD25+ (SICD3+CD25+) and CD3+HLA-DR+ (SICD3+HLADR+) cells in cultures treated with PHA alone, versus cultures treated with both PHA and drugs. Optimal suppression of activated cells was observed in cultures stimulated with ASX 10-6 M + CTZ 10-6 M (SICD3+CD25+, p = 0.016; SICD3+HLADR, p = 0.012); ASX 10-6 M + AZE 10-6 M (SICD3+CD25+, p = 0.012; SICD3+HLADR, p = 0.015); GB 10-6 M + CTZ 10-6 M (SICD3+CD25+, p = 0.024, SICD3+HLADR+, p = 0.019). Results demonstrate improved activity of antihistamines by 2 phytochemicals, suggesting dosing strategies for animal trials of ASX- or GB-augmented formulations for seasonal allergic rhinitis and asthma.

Topics: Adult; Anti-Allergic Agents; Antioxidants; Asthma; Biomarkers; Case-Control Studies; Cells, Cultured; Cetirizine; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Flow Cytometry; Ginkgolides; Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating; Humans; Lactones; Lymphocyte Activation; Male; Phthalazines; Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal; T-Lymphocytes; Xanthophylls; Young Adult

In this study, combinations of Ginkgo biloba leaf extract (EGb761) plus the carotenoid antioxidant astaxanthin (ASX) and vitamin C were evaluated for a summative dose effect in the inhibition of asthma-associated inflammation in asthmatic guinea-pigs. Ovalbumin-sensitized Hartley guinea-pigs challenged with ovalbumin aerosol to induce asthma, were administered EGb761, ASX, vitamin C or ibuprofen. Following killing, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was evaluated for inflammatory cell infiltrates and lung tissue cyclic nucleotide content. Each parameter measured was significantly altered to a greater degree by drug combinations, than by each component acting independently. An optimal combination was identified that included astaxanthin (10 mg/kg), vitamin C (200 mg/kg) and EGb761 (10 mg/kg), resulting in counts of eosinophils and neutrophils each 1.6-fold lower; macrophages 1.8-fold lower, cAMP 1.4-fold higher; and cGMP 2.04-fold higher than levels in untreated, asthmatic animals (p < 0.05). In conclusion, EGb761, ASX and vitamin C are shown here to interact summatively to suppress inflammation with efficacy equal to or better than ibuprofen, a widely used non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID). Such combinations of non-toxic phytochemicals constitute powerful tools for the prevention of onset of acute and chronic inflammatory disease if consumed regularly by healthy individuals; and may also augment the effectiveness of therapy for those with established illness.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Ascorbic Acid; Asthma; Drug Therapy, Combination; Ginkgo biloba; Guinea Pigs; Ibuprofen; Male; Plant Extracts; Xanthophylls

This study was undertaken to identify novel approaches to pharmacological treatment of asthma. Here we hypothesize that the platelet-activating factor receptor antagonist ginkgolide B (GB) in combination with the antioxidant carotenoid astaxanthin (ASX) suppresses T cell activation comparably to two commonly-used antihistamines: cetirizine dihydrochloride (CTZ) and azelastine (AZE). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from asthmatics, cultured 24 h with either 50 microg/ml phytohemaglutinin (PHA) or PHA plus selected dosages of each drug are analyzed by flow cytometry for CD25+ or HLA-DR+ on CD3+ (T cells). Results are reported as stimulation indices (SI) of %CD3+CD25+ cells or %CD3+HLA-DR+ cells in cultures treated with PHA alone versus these subpopulations in cultures treated with both PHA and drugs. Combinations of ASX and GB exhibited optimal suppression at 10(-7) M GB + 10(-8) M ASX for CD3+CD25+ (SI = 0.79 +/- 0.04, P = 0.001) and 10(-7) M GB + 10(-7) M ASX for CD3+HLA-DR+ (SI = 0.82 +/- 0.05, P = 0.004). In conclusion, suppression of T cell activation below fully stimulated values by GB, ASX, and their combinations was comparable and for some combinations better than that mediated by CTZ and AZE. These results suggest that ASX and GB may have application as novel antiasthmatic formulations.

Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Adult; Asthma; beta Carotene; Cells, Cultured; Diterpenes; Drug Combinations; Female; Ginkgolides; Humans; Lactones; Leukocytes, Mononuclear; Lymphocyte Activation; Male; Plant Extracts; Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; T-Lymphocytes; Xanthophylls