Abstract
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.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baker KE, Bonvini SJ, Donovan C, Foong RE, Han B, Jha A, Shaifta Y, Smit M, Johnson JR, Moir LM (2014) Novel drug targets for asthma and COPD: lessons learned from in vitro and in vivo models. Pulm Pharmacol Ther 29:181–198
Choi JH, Park YN, Li Y, Jin MH, Lee J, Lee Y, Son JK, Chang HW, Lee E (2010) Flowers of Inula japonica attenuate inflammatory responses. Immune Netw 10:145–152
Dahlen SE, Hansson G, Hedqvist P, Bjorck T, Granstrom E, Dahlen B (1983) Allergen challenge of lung tissue from asthmatics elicits bronchial contraction that correlates with the release of leukotrienes C4, D4, and E4. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 80:1712–1716
Ismail N, Jambari NN, Zareen S, Akhtar MN, Shaari K, Zamri-Saad M, Tham CL, Sulaiman MR, Lajis NH, Israf DA (2012) A geranyl acetophenone targeting cysteinyl leukotriene synthesis prevents allergic airway inflammation in ovalbumin-sensitized mice. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 259:257–262
Kim YM, Kim YS, Jeon SG, Kim YK (2013) Immunopathogenesis of allergic asthma: more than the th2 hypothesis. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res 5:189–196
Kudo M, Ishigatsubo Y, Aoki I (2013) Pathology of asthma. Front Microbiol 4:263
Lee T, Lee S, Ho Kim K, Oh KB, Shin J, Mar W (2013) Effects of magnolialide isolated from the leaves of Laurus nobilis L. (Lauraceae) on immunoglobulin E-mediated type I hypersensitivity in vitro. J Ethnopharmacol 149:550–556
Liu M, Yokomizo T (2015) The role of leukotrienes in allergic diseases. Allergol Int 64:17–26
Lu Y, Li Y, Jin M, Yang JH, Li X, Chao GH, Park HH, Park YN, Son JK, Lee E, Chang HW (2012) Inula japonica extract inhibits mast cell-mediated allergic reaction and mast cell activation. J Ethnopharmacol 143:151–157
Lu Y, Li X, Park YN, Kwon O, Piao D, Chang YC, Kim CH, Lee E, Son JK, Chang HW (2014) Britanin suppresses IgE/Ag-induced mast cell activation by inhibiting the syk pathway. Biomol Ther 22:193–199
Miyata N, Gon Y, Nunomura S, Endo D, Yamashita K, Matsumoto K, Hashimoto S, Ra C (2008) Inhibitory effects of parthenolide on antigen-induced microtubule formation and degranulation in mast cells. Int Immunopharmacol 8:874–880
Nayak A, Langdon RB (2007) Montelukast in the treatment of allergic rhinitis: an evidence-based review. Drugs 67:887–901
Park YN, Lee YJ, Choi JH, Jin M, Yang JH, Li Y, Lee J, Li X, Kim KJ, Son JK, Chang HW, Kim JY, Lee E (2011) Alleviation of OVA-induced airway inflammation by flowers of Inula japonica in a murine model of asthma. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 75:871–876
Park HH, Kim MJ, Li Y, Park YN, Lee J, Lee YJ, Kim SG, Park HJ, Son JK, Chang HW, Lee E (2013) Britanin suppresses LPS-induced nitric oxide, PGE2 and cytokine production via NF-kappaB and MAPK inactivation in RAW 264.7 cells. Int Immunopharmacol 15:296–302
Park HH, Kim SG, Kim MJ, Lee J, Choi BK, Jin MH, Lee E (2014a) Suppressive effect of tomentosin on the production of inflammatory mediators in RAW264.7 cells. Biol Pharm Bull 37:1177–1183
Park HH, Kim SG, Park YN, Lee J, Lee YJ, Park NY, Jeong KT, Lee E (2014b) Suppressive effects of britanin, a sesquiterpene compound isolated from Inulae flos, on mast cell-mediated inflammatory responses. Am J Chin Med 42:935–947
Penissi AB, Vera ME, Mariani ML, Rudolph MI, Cenal JP, de Rosas JC, Fogal TH, Tonn CE, Favier LS, Giordano OS, Piezzi RS (2009) Novel anti-ulcer alpha, beta-unsaturated lactones inhibit compound 48/80-induced mast cell degranulation. Eur J Pharmacol 612:122–130
Shimbori C, Shiota N, Okunishi H (2011) Effects of montelukast, a cysteinyl-leukotriene type 1 receptor antagonist, on the pathogenesis of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice. Eur J Pharmacol 650:424–430
Szefler SJ (2011) Advancing asthma care: the glass is only half full! J Allergy Clin Immunol 128:485–494
Acknowledgments
This study was supported by a grant of the Traditional Korean Medicine R&D Project (HI13C0538), Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Additional information
Sun-Gun Kim and Eujin Lee have contributed equally to this work.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kim, SG., Lee, E., Park, NY. et al. Britanin attenuates ovalbumin-induced airway inflammation in a murine asthma model. Arch. Pharm. Res. 39, 1006–1012 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12272-016-0783-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12272-016-0783-z