britannin and Inflammation

We previously demonstrated the alleviation of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced airway inflammation by Inulae flos. In the present study, the effects of britanin, a sesquiterpene compound isolated from Inulae flos, were evaluated in an in vivo animal model for anti-asthma activity through observation of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), eosinophil recruitment, Th2 cytokine and IgE levels, and lung histopathology. Britanin administration effectively reduced AHR induced by aerosolized methacholine, airway eosinophilia, Th2 cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids and the supernatant of cultured splenocytes compared with OVA-induced mice. Histological studies showed that increased inflammatory cell infiltration and mucus secretion were reduced by britanin administration. Thus, britanin may have therapeutic potential for treating allergic asthma.

Topics: Animals; Asthma; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Inflammation; Inflammation Mediators; Lactones; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Ovalbumin; Sesquiterpenes

Mast cells are central players in immediate-type hypersensitvity and inflammatory responses. In the present study, the effects of britanin on the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) reaction in mice and on the phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and calcium ionophore A23187 (PMACI)-induced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in human mast cell line (HMC-1) were evaluated. The oral administration of britanin (10-20 mg/kg) decreased the mast cell-mediated PCA reaction in IgE-sensitized mice. In the activity and mechanism of britanin in vitro assay, britanin suppressed the gene expression and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines in a dose-dependent manner in HMC-1. In addition, britanin attenuated PMACI-induced activation of NF-κB as indicated by the inhibition of the degradation of IκBα, nuclear translocation of NF-κB, NF-κB/DNA binding activity assay, and blocked the phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase, in a dose-dependent manner. We conclude that britanin may have potential as a treatment for allergic-inflammatory diseases.

Topics: Administration, Ophthalmic; Animals; Calcimycin; Calcium Ionophores; Cells, Cultured; Cytokines; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Humans; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Inflammation; Inflammation Mediators; Inula; Lactones; Male; Mast Cells; Mice, Inbred ICR; NF-kappa B; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis; Phosphorylation; Phytotherapy; Sesquiterpenes; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate