Effects of Pelargonium sidoides and Coptis Rhizoma 2 : 1 Mixed Formula (PS + CR) on Ovalbumin-Induced Asthma in Mice

Pelargonium sidoides (PS) is traditionally used to treat respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, dysmenorrhea, and hepatic disorders in South Africa. Coptis Rhizoma (CR) is used to treat gastroenteric disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer in East Asia. In the present study, we intended to observe the possible beneficial antiasthma effects of PS and CR on the ovalbumin- (OVA-) induced asthma C57BL/6J mice. Asthma in mice was induced by OVA sensitization and subsequent boosting. PS + CR (300 and 1,000 mg/kg; PO) or dexamethasone (IP) was administered once a day for 16 days. The changes in the body weight and gains, lung weights and gross inspections, total and differential cell counts of leukocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), serum OVA-specific immunoglobulin E (OVA-sIgE) levels, interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-5 levels in BALF and lung tissue homogenate, and IL-4 and IL-5 mRNA levels in lung tissue homogenates were analyzed with lung histopathology: mean alveolar surface area (ASA), alveolar septal thickness, numbers of inflammatory cells, mast cells, and eosinophils infiltrated in the alveolar regions, respectively. Significant increases in lung weights, total and differential cell counts of leukocytes in BALF, serum OVA-sIgE levels, and IL-4 and IL-5 levels in BALF and lung tissue homogenate were observed in OVA control as compared to those of intact control. In addition, OVA control showed a significant decrease in mean ASA and increases in alveolar septal thickness, numbers of inflammatory cells, mast cells, and eosinophils infiltrated in alveolar regions. However, these allergic and inflammatory asthmatic changes were significantly inhibited by PS + CR in a dose-dependent manner. In this study, PS + CR showed dose-dependent beneficial effects on OVA-induced asthma in mice through anti-inflammatory and antiallergic activities. Therefore, it is expected that PS + CR have enough potential as a new therapeutic agent or as an ingredient of a medicinal agent for various allergic and inflammatory respiratory diseases including asthma.