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The ameliorative effect of berberine and coenzyme Q10 in an ovalbumin-induced allergic rhinitis model

  • Rhinology
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

Berberine and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) are agents with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant characteristics. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of berberine and CoQ10 on allergic rhinitis.

Methods

This study involved 30 Sprague–Dawley rats, and allergic rhinitis model was established with induction of ovalbumin. Rats were randomized into five groups. The first represented the control group, in which no allergy was established. The second represented the allergy group, in which allergy was induced but no treatment was given. In the remaining three groups, following induction of allergy, desloratadine at a dose of 10 mg/kg was given to Group 3, 100 mg/kg dose of berberine to Group 4, and 20 mg/kg dose of CoQ10 to Group 5. Nasal symptom scores, and plasma immunoglobulin-E, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13, malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels were examined at the end of the study. Rats’ nasal tissues were also subjected to histopathological immunohistochemical examination.

Results

Nasal symptom scores, and plasma immunoglobulin-E, IL-4, IL-13, MDA and NO levels increased significantly in rats with induced allergic rhinitis. Berberine and CoQ10 significantly reduced these elevated levels. CoQ10 was also found as effective as desloratadin in terms of nasal symptom scores and biochemical parameters. At histopathological examination, severe allergic inflammation was observed in rats from allergic rhinitis group. At all treatment groups, the histopathological changes were significantly improved and only a mild inflammation was determined. Also, immunochemistry showed a significant improvement in all three treatment groups. Coenzyme Q10 and berberine were both effective in suppressing allergy symptoms.

Conclusion

We think that berberine and coenzyme Q10 can usefully be employed as therapy due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in an experimentally induced allergic rhinitis model.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Ataturk University, 25240, Erzurum, Turkey

    Muhammed Sedat Sakat, Korhan Kilic & Abdulkadir Sahin

  2. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey

    Fatih Mehmet Kandemir & Sefa Kucukler

  3. Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey

    Serkan Yildirim & Yavuz Selim Saglam

Authors
  1. Muhammed Sedat Sakat
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  2. Korhan Kilic
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  3. Fatih Mehmet Kandemir
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  4. Serkan Yildirim
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  7. Yavuz Selim Saglam
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Correspondence to Muhammed Sedat Sakat.

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All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

This study was performed in accordance with the PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, the NIH Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, and the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. et seq.); the animal use protocol was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) of Ataturk University.

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Sakat, M.S., Kilic, K., Kandemir, F.M. et al. The ameliorative effect of berberine and coenzyme Q10 in an ovalbumin-induced allergic rhinitis model. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 275, 2495–2505 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-018-5104-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-018-5104-3

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