The Effect of Natural Adjuvants on Pathological Changes in Sensitized Guinea Pig Lungs

BACKGROUND: Anti-inflammatory effect of natural adjuvants has been reported. Lung inflammation is the most characterized pathological feature in asthma. OBJECTIVES: The effects of three natural adjuvants (PC, G2, and G2F registered as a patent in the Iranian Patent Office) on sensitized guinea pigs lungs were examined in the present study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Lung pathological changes were examined in control and five groups of randomly divided guinea pigs including: sensitized animals (S, receiving normal saline, 0.5 ml i.p.); sensitized animals treated with adjuvant PC; G2F (0.1 ml i.p. for both cases); G2 (0.4 ml i.p.); and PC + G2 (receiving both PC and G) adjuvants (twice a week for 4 weeks for all groups). Sensitization of animals was done by injection and inhalation of ovalbumin (OA). RESULTS: All pathological changes in S group including the eosinophil infiltration (scoring 3.28 ± 0.28), lymphocyte infiltration (2.82 ± 0.26), local epithelial necrosis (2.71 ± 0.47) and mucosal plug (2.75 ± 0.37) were significantly higher than control group (0.64 ± 0.18, 1.36 ± 0.24, 0.36 ± 0.18 and 0.28 ± 0.18 for eosinophil infiltration, lymphocyte infiltration, epithelial necrosis and mucosal plug respectively, P < 0.001 for all cases). Treatment with all adjuvants improved all pathological changes significantly (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate preventive effects of all natural adjuvants (especially G2) on pathological changes of the lung in sensitized guinea pigs.