Journal of Pharmacopuncture (대한약침학회지)

KOREAN PHARMACOPUNCTURE INSTITUTE (대한약침학회)
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Modulation of Immunological, Biochemical, and Histopathological Changes of Airway Remodeling by Withania somnifera in an Experimental Model of Allergic Asthma in Rats

  • Nafaa Hasan Ali (Department of Pharmacology, Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (HIMSR), Jamia Hamdard University) ;
  • Sana Rehman (Department of Pharmacology, Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (HIMSR), Jamia Hamdard University) ;
  • Maaz Naqvi (Department of Pharmacology, Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (HIMSR), Jamia Hamdard University) ;
  • Kavita Gulati (Department of Pharmacology, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi) ;
  • Arunabha Ray (Department of Pharmacology, Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (HIMSR), Jamia Hamdard University)
  • Received : 2022.11.09
  • Accepted : 2023.02.27
  • Published : 2023.06.30
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Abstract

Objectives: Airway remodeling in asthma involves chronic inflammation associated with structural changes, which result in severe airflow limitation and very few therapeutic options. Thus, the present study was designed to experimentally evaluate the ameliorative effects of Withania somnifera (WS) root extract against Ovalbumin (OVA)-induced airway remodeling in a rat model of asthma. Methods: Wistar rats were immunized (i.p) and challenged (aerosol) with ovalbumin (OVA), and the effects of WS extract were investigated on the development and progress of airway remodeling by assessing immunological, biochemical, and histological changes in these rats. Results: OVA-immunization and challenge in rats resulted in significant increases in the levels of IL-13, 8-OhdG, TGF-β, hydroxyproline, and periostin in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and serum/lung homogenate compared to normal control (saline only) rats, and these changes were attenuated after WS extract (200 and 400 mg/kg), as well as dexamethasone (DEX, 1 mg/kg) pretreatments. Further, WS extract attenuated histopathological changes and maintained lung integrity. In herb-drug interactions, sub-threshold doses of WS extract and DEX showed synergistic effects on all parameters studied as compared to either form of monotherapy. Conclusion: These results indicated that WS exerted significant protective effects against airway remodeling in the experimental model by modulating inflammatory and fibrotic cytokines, and could have the potential for developing a therapeutic alternative/adjunct for the treatment of airway remodeling of bronchial asthma.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

The authors thank the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for the financial support. The infrastructural support provided by HIMSR, New Delhi, is gratefully acknowledged.

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