Evaluation of Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of therapeutic effects of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and Piper nigrum in Experimental Model of Bronchial Asthma
Pankaj Verma, Kavita Gulati and Arunabha Ray
Published: February 05, 2022
DOI: 10.55162/MCPS.22.028
Abstract
Abstract
The present study was performed to experimentally evaluate therapeutic effects of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and Piper nigrum and their cellular, molecular and bioenhancing effects in ovalbumin (OVA) induced model of bronchial asthma. Wistar rats were sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA) adsorbed on aluminium hydroxide on day 0 followed by OVA challenge on day 14 to experimentally induce bronchial asthma. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (100 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg), Piper nigrum (30 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg), combined dose of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (100 mg/kg) -Piper nigrum (30 mg/kg) and Prednisolone (10 mg/kg) were administered for 14 days and its effects on airway hyper responsiveness in response to spasmogen (methacholine) and airway inflammation were assessed. Enhanced pause (p-enh), a marker of airway hyper responsiveness, was measured in response to inhaled methacholine using whole body plethysmography. Following that rats were anesthetized and blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were collected and analyzed for OVA specific IgE and pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α). Results showed that OVA sensitization and challenge in rats induced increased P-enh levels indicative of enhanced airway hyper responsiveness to methacholine exposure thus validating the experimental model (Disease control). OVA sensitization-challenge treatment resulted in increased IgE and TNF-α in both blood and BAL fluid. Administration of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (100 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg), Piper nigrum (30mg/kg and 100 mg/kg) induced dose-dependent attenuations in P-enh levels, IgE as well as TNF- α levels. Combined administration of sub effective doses of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and Piper nigrum induced significant attenuation in all the parameters in blood and BAL fluid compared to Disease control rats as well as that of herbal drug given alone. The results showed that Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and Piper nigrum reduced both (a) airway hyper-responsiveness to the bronchoconstrictor; and (b) the biomarkers of airway inflammation and validates the observed therapeutic benefits of this Indian traditional medicinal plant for bronchial asthma
Keywords: Bronchial asthma; Airway Hyper responsiveness; Ovalbumin; Methacholine; Enhanced Pause