Anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects of Cheonwangbosim-dan water extract: An in vitro and in vivo study

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Cheonwangbosim-dan is a traditional herbal prescription that is widely used to improve or treat physical and mental illnesses in East Asian countries. Aim of the study: The aim of the present study was to investigate the preventive and protective effects of a Cheonwangbosim-dan water extract (CBDW) against allergic inflammation using in vitro and in vivo models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: BEAS-2B and MC/9 cells were treated with various concentrations of CBDW and stimulated with different inducers of inflammatory mediators. The production of various inflammatory mediators was subsequently evaluated. BALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged by repeated application of ovalbumin (OVA). CBDW was administered by oral gavage once daily for 10 consecutive days. We assessed the number of inflammatory cells and production of Th2 cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), the plasma levels of total and OVA-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE), and histological changes in lung tissue. RESULTS: Our findings showed that CBDW significantly decreased the levels of various inflammatory mediators (eotaxin-1, eotaxin-3, RANTES, LTC(4), TNF-α, MMP-9, 5-LO, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1) in vitro, significantly reduced the accumulation of total inflammatory cells, the production of Th2 cytokines (IL-5 and IL-13), the levels of IgE (total and OVA-specific) in vivo, and remarkably inhibited histological changes (infiltration of inflammatory cells and goblet cell hyperplasia) in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that CBDW possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties by lowering allergic inflammation.