Pinellia ternata Breitenbach attenuates ovalbumin-induced allergic airway inflammation and mucus secretion in a murine model of asthma

Objective: Pinellia ternata is an important plant in traditional Chinese medicine. This study describes the anti-inflammatory effects of a water extract of P. ternata (PTE) in allergic airway inflammation in a model of asthma in mice. Materials and methods: BALB/c mice were sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA) and, upon an OVA aerosol challenge, developed airway eosinophilia, mucus hypersecretion, elevations in cytokine, chemokine, and immunoglobulin levels and overexpression of inducible nitric oxide (iNOS). Results: Intragastric administration of PTE significantly attenuated OVA-induced influx of total leukocytes, eosinophils, neutrophils, macrophages and lymphocytes into lungs, and attenuated levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), in a dose-dependent manner. PTE also significantly reduced the plasma levels of total and OVA-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)E release into the airspace. Histological studies showed that PTE inhibited OVA-induced lung tissue eosinophilia and airway mucus production. Moreover, in whole lung tissue lysates, immunohistology showed that PTE markedly attenuated the OVA-induced increase in mucin 5AC and iNOS expression. Conclusions: These results indicate that PTE has protective effects against allergic airway inflammation.