Glabridin attenuates airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness in a mice model of ovalbumin-induced asthma

• Published in: Pulmonary pharmacology & therapeutics 2020-08, Vol.63, p.101936-101936, Article 101936
• Main Authors: Dogan, Muhammed Fatih, Parlar, Ali, Cam, Saliha Aysenur, Tosun, Elif Merve, Uysal, Fatma, Arslan, Seyfullah Oktay
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Asthma; Glabridin; Ovalbumin; Plethysmography
• ISSN: 1094-5539; 1522-9629
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pupt.2020.101936

Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs, which is characterized by airflow obstruction and bronchospasms. Glabridin is a major flavonoid, especially found in root of Glycyrrhiza glabra, and has several pharmacological activities, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The anti-asthmatic effect and possible mechanism of glabridin, however, have not been revealed so far. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects and possible mechanisms of glabridin against ovalbumin (OVA)-induced airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and inflammation in mice. In male BALB/c mice, asthma was induced by intraperitoneal (i.p) injection of OVA mixed with 2 mg aluminium hydroxide on days 0, 14 and boosted with OVA aerosol challenge on days 21, 22, and 23. Mice were either treated with dexamethasone (i.p, 1 mg/kg) or glabridin (10, 20, and 30 mg/kg) from days 18–23. Pulmonary function parameters such as peak inspiratory flow, peak expiratory flow, tidal volume, expiratory volume, the frequency of breathing, enhanced pause values were evaluated by using whole-body plethysmography. Measurements were performed at baseline and following methacholine (50 mg/mL) challenges. In addition, white blood cells (WBC) count, total protein, and IgE levels were measured in bronchial alveolar lavage fluid (BALF), lung, and serum, respectively. Glabridin (20 or 30 mg/kg) significantly attenuated (p