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Title: Effects of taraxasterol on ovalbumin-induced allergic asthma in mice. Author: Liu J, Xiong H, Cheng Y, Cui C, Zhang X, Xu L, Zhang X. Journal: J Ethnopharmacol; 2013 Jul 30; 148(3):787-93. PubMed ID: 23727181. Abstract: ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Taraxasterol was isolated from the Chinese medicinal herb Taraxacum officinale which has been frequently used as a remedy for inflammatory diseases. In the present study, we determined the in vivo protective effect of taraxasterol on allergic asthma induced by ovalbumin (OVA) in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mice were sensitized and challenged with OVA, and were orally treated daily with taraxasterol at 2.5, 5 and 10mg/kg from day 23 to 27 after sensitization. The number of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was determined. Th2 cytokine interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-5 (IL-5), interleukin-13 (IL-13) production in BALF and OVA-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) production in sera were measured using ELISA. Histological changes in lung tissues were examined using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and periodic acid-Schiff staining (PAS). Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) to inhaled methacholine was assessed. RESULTS: Taraxasterol dramatically decreased the total inflammatory cell and main inflammatory cell counts, reduced the production of Th2 cytokine IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 in BALF and OVA-specific IgE in sera, and suppressed AHR in a dose-dependent manner. Histological studies demonstrated that taraxasterol substantially suppressed OVA-induced inflammatory cells infiltration into lung tissues and goblet cell hyperplasia in airways. CONCLUSIONS: This finding suggests that taraxasterol protects against OVA-induced allergic asthma in mice.[Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]