ovalbumin and Fever

Mahuang-Shigao herb-pair is a famous formula composed of Ephedra and Gypsum. The herb-pair is frequently used for treating cold symptoms and bronchial asthma in the clinical practice of Chinese medicine (CM). In the present study, we evaluated evidence for the benefit of combined use of Ephedra and Gypsum by analyzing the antipyretic and anti-asthmatic activities of Ephedra-Gypsum.. The antipyretic effects of Ephedra-Gypsum were evaluated in yeast-induced hyperthermia test. Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, including control group, standard aspirin group, and 3 Ephedra- Gypsum groups of different doses (6, 12, 24 g/kg). Ephedra-Gypsum extract and asprin were administered orally 6 h after the injection of yeast solution and body temperature was measured every 1 h for 8 h. The antiasthmatic effects of Ephedra-Gypsum were evaluated using an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthmatic rat model. Thirty-six male SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups. Rats were alternately sensitized and OVA+Al(OH) challenged by exposure to mists of ovalbumin. Ephedra-Gypsum extracts (6, 12, 24 g/kg) or dexamethasone were administered 45 min prior to the allergen challenge for 8 days. Latent period and the weight of wet to dry ratio of lung were determined. In addition, the eosinophils in blood and white blood cell (WBC) were counted by an YZ-Hemavet Analyzer.. The Ephedra-Gypsum extracts at test dose (6, 12, 24 g/kg) significantly and dose-dependently attenuated yeast-induced fever in rats. The Ephedra-Gypsum extracts also prolonged the latent period, reduced OVA-induced increases in eosinophils and WBC, and decreased the wet and dry weight ratio of the lungs in the anti-asthmatic test.. These findings indicate that the Ephedra-Gypsum extract has antipyretic and anti-asthmatic properties. Hence, the results support additional scientific evidence in prescriptions.

Topics: Alkaloids; Animals; Anti-Asthmatic Agents; Antipyretics; Asthma; Calcium Sulfate; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Ephedra; Fever; Lung; Male; Organ Size; Ovalbumin; Plant Extracts; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Rats, Wistar

Violacein was isolated from Chromobacterium violaceum, a soil Gram negative bacterium collected from the forest water body soil sample of Kolli Hills; Tamil Nadu, India. In the present study the immunomodulatory, analgesic and antipyretic activities of violacein were investigated in wistar rats and mice. Analgesic effect was evaluated by acetic acid- induced writhing, formalin induced paw licking and hotplate tests. Immunomodulatory effect was investigated by using ovalbumin- induced active paw anaphylaxis and sheep red blood cells (SRBC)-induced DTH tests. Antipyretic activity was evaluated by yeast- induced hyperpyrexia in rats. The anti- oedema effect was compared with indomethacin. Violacein inhibited 42.9% of ovalbumin- induced edema. Further we found that violacein (40mg/kg b.w.) reduced the edema induced by sheep red blood cells. Violacein also produced significant (p<0.05) analgesic activity in acetic acid induced writhing response, formalin induced paw licking response and hot plate analysis. Treatment with violacein showed a significant (p<0.05) dose-dependent reduction in pyrexia in rats. The results suggest that violacein possesses potent immunomodulatory, analgesic and antipyretic activities.

Topics: Acetic Acid; Analgesics; Anaphylaxis; Animals; Behavior, Animal; Chromobacterium; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Edema; Erythrocytes; Female; Fever; Formaldehyde; Hot Temperature; Hypersensitivity; Hypersensitivity, Delayed; Immunologic Factors; India; Indoles; Indomethacin; Male; Mice; Ovalbumin; Pain; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Sheep; Yeasts

Mast-cell-deficient W/W(v) mice were sensitized by oral administration of 0.1 and 1.0 mg ovalbumin (OVA) by gavage every day for 9 weeks, and active systemic anaphylaxis (ASA) was induced by intraperitoneal injection of OVA. The production of OVA-specific IgE and IgG1 by oral immunization of the W/W(v) mice was high, and the production of IL-4 by splenocytes re-stimulated with OVA in vitro was increased. In contrast, production of OVA-specific IgG2a and IgG2b was low, and production of IFN-gamma by splenocytes after re-stimulation with OVA in vitro was rather decreased. These findings suggest that Th2-dominant helper T-cell activation had occurred. No increase in serum histamine level was observed following ASA induction. However, the plasma platelet-activating factor (PAF) levels of the mice sensitized with 0.1 and 1.0 mg OVA by gavage increased significantly. The increases in plasma PAF correlated well with the ASA-associated decreases in body temperature, suggesting that PAF plays an important role in ASA in W/W(v) mice. Taken together the above findings indicate that W/W(v) mice are a good model not only for studying induction of food allergy but also for examining the role of PAF in food-induced hypersensitivity.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Anaphylaxis; Animals; Body Weight; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Fever; Food Hypersensitivity; Histamine; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Interferon-gamma; Interleukin-4; Mast Cells; Mice; Mice, Mutant Strains; Organ Size; Ovalbumin; Platelet Activating Factor; Th2 Cells

The guinea pig model of pulmonary hypersensitivity, developed in this laboratory, was used to study the relationship of fever with late-onset airway responses (LAR). The preceding paper M. H. Karol, J. A. Hillebrand, and P. S. Thorne. (1989). Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 100, 234-246 described production of immediate-onset responses (IAR) to ovalbumin (OA) with infrequent production of LAR (Karol et al., 1989). In the current study, LAR was produced on each of two occasions in the same animals using a sensitization regimen consisting of ip injection with 1 mg OA followed by exposure to 63 mg/m3 OA aerosol on Day 8. On Days 15 and 29, pyrilamine maleate was administered prior to inhalation challenges to block H1 receptors and to allow exposure for 20 min to 63 mg/m3 OA without histamine shock and fatal anaphylactic reactions. Each of the seven guinea pigs demonstrated IAR; four of seven additionally underwent LAR on both occasions. Late-onset responses were maximal at 4-5 hr postchallenge. Febrile responses of approximately 1 degree C (maximum 1.6 degrees C) accompanied the LAR in six of seven cases. Histopathology performed at the height of response revealed peribronchiolar eosinophilia. Pulmonary function determination indicated airflow disturbance during exhalation. These results are consistent with LAR being an airway response which is accompanied by fever and demonstrate the applicability of the guinea pig animal model to the study of mechanisms underlying IAR and LAR hypersensitivities.

Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Aerosols; Airway Obstruction; Animals; Body Temperature; Disease Models, Animal; Fever; Guinea Pigs; Hypersensitivity, Delayed; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Immunization; Lung; Lung Volume Measurements; Male; Ovalbumin; Respiration; Respiratory Hypersensitivity

The present studies were designed to investigate the role of monocytes in the pathogenesis of fever in delayed hypersensitivity. Adherent rabbit blood monocytes (from both normal and sensitized donors) were separated on Ficoll-Hypaque gradients and incubated with antigen (Ag; ovalbumin) and sensitized draining-lymph-node lymphocytes (or their supernatants) from rabbits with delayed hypersensitivity, and release of endogenous pyrogen was assayed. Results indicated that monocytes are activated to produce endogenous pyrogen by Ag and suspensions of draining-lymph-node cells or by an agent (lymphokine) in the supernatants of sensitized lymphocytes preincubated with Ag. The release of lymphokine was Ag specific and was correlated with the skin test reactivity of the donor rabbits to the sensitizing Ag. No evidence was found that Ag-antibody complexes or (in the case of sensitized monocytes) cytophilic antibodies play a role in the activity of this lymphokine which appears to act selectively on monocytes rather than on granulocytes.

Topics: Animals; Antibodies; Antigen-Antibody Reactions; Antigens; Fever; Hypersensitivity, Delayed; Lymphocytes; Lymphokines; Monocytes; Ovalbumin; Pyrogens; Rabbits; Skin Tests