Evaluation of anti-asthmatic and antioxidant potential of Boerhavia procumbens in toluene diisocyanate (TDI) treated rats.

OBJECTIVE

Asthma is an ailment of airways characterized by activation of the T helper (Th) 2 lymphocytes and subsequent movement of inflammatory cells. Boerhavia procumbens of family Nyctaginaceae is locally used for the treatment of asthma, cough, hemorrhoids, dropsy, cardiac, eyes and kidney problems. We have evaluated its methanol extract (BPM) as a therapeutic candidate for asthma against toluene diisocyanate (TDI) allergic model in rat. The BPM extract was obtained from the whole plant of B. procumbens in methanol. Sprague-Dawley male 36 rats (200-250 g) were categorized into 6 groups having six rats in each category. The animals were provoked (10%) and sensitized (5%) by TDI. Animals of groups I-III were vehicle control (ethyl acetate), diseased control (TDI) and reference control (TDI+dexamethasone {2.5mg/kg bw}), respectively. Animals of group IV (TDI+200mg/kg bw) and group V (TDI+400mg/kg bw) were administered with BPM whereas group VI was administered with 400mg/kg bw alone of BPM. Protective effects of BPM were determined by counting the number of leucocytes and estimation of interleukines in blood, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and in in vitro culture of spleen cells. Estimation of antioxidant enzymes, lipid peroxides and H2O2 and histopathology of lungs were carried out for antioxidant potential of plant extract used.

RESULTS

Methanol extract of B. procumbens suppressed the asthmatic symptoms and inhibited the infiltration of eosinophils and lymphocytes in lungs of TDI provoked rats. Administration of BPM to TDI provoked rats, dose dependently, inhibited the release of interleukins (IL)-2 in serum and IL-4, IL-6 interferon gamma (IFN-γ) in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and in in vitro culture of spleen cells, and ameliorated the oxidative stress in lung tissues. Quantitative scoring of the lung histopathology exhibited protective effects of BPM and the inflammation, mucus, thickening of peribronchial smooth muscle layer and subepithelial deposition of collagen induced with TDI were ameliorated. The BPM has the anti-inflammatory properties that may be used to treat the asthma and inflammatory related ailments.