Aucubin Regulates Allergic Airway Inflammation in Ovalbumin-induced Allergic Asthma in Mice by Controlling Th2 Cytokines

Background Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition of the airways, leading to excessive production of mucus and an inflammatory condition of the lungs. The primary clinical manifestations of asthma comprise thoracic constriction, coughing, wheezing, and dyspnea.Purpose The present work was designed to examine the therapeutic effects of aucubin in treating ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma in mice via suppressing inflammatory responses.Methods The aucubin-induced RAW 264.7 cell viability was assessed using the MTT test. The inflammatory cytokine levels in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 cells were analyzed using kits. The inflammatory cell levels in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of the asthma-induced mice were assessed microscopically. The Th2 cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), immunoglobulin E (IgE), and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) were assessed using assay kits. The amounts of the oxidative stress parameters were examined using kits. The lung tissues of the experimental mice underwent histological examination.Results The present work reveals that the aucubin treatment has no cytotoxic effect on RAW 264.7 cell growth. Furthermore, it decreased the nitric oxide (NO), TNF-alpha, and IL-6 levels in the LPS-induced cells. In addition, the treatment of aucubin in mice with OVA-induced asthma led to decreased T helper (Th)2 cytokine levels and inflammatory cell counts. The aucubin treatment was observed to reduce IgE and inflammatory markers, leading to the relief of airway inflammation. Furthermore, the aucubin treatment resulted in a decrease in the malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and NO levels, while simultaneously elevating the antioxidant levels in the OVA-induced mice. The histopathological study revealed the therapeutic effects of aucubin on asthmatic mice.Conclusion The present results demonstrate the efficacy of aucubin in mitigating the asthmatic condition in OVA-induced mice, making it a promising therapeutic candidate to treat asthma.