Anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb extract on murine cell lines and OVA-induced airway inflammation

Ethnopharmacological evidence: Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb (Rosaceae, AP) has long been used as a traditional medicine in Korea and other Asian countries to treat various diseases. Aim of the study: In the present study, the anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects of AP extract in in vitro cell lines and in vivo mouse model of inflammation and the molecular mechanisms involved were reported. Materials and methods: Using Raw 264.7 murine macrophages the effects of methanol extract of AP in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of inflammatory mediators were measured. Further IgE-DNP-induced interleukin (IL)-4 production and degranulation in RBL-2H3 rat basophilic cell lines was also estimated. To investigate the anti-asthmatic effect of AP in vivo, airway inflammation in ovalbumin (OVA)-induced mouse model was used. Results: AP attenuated the production of inflammatory mediators such as NO. PGE(2) and pro-inflammatory cytokines in LPS-induced Raw 264.7 cells. Further, AP inhibited IL-4 production and degranulation in IgE-DNP-induced RBL-2H3 cells. Furthermore, AP attenuated the infiltration of immune cells into lung, cytokines production in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and airway-hyperresponsiveness (AHR) on OVA-induced mouse model of inflammation. Conclusion: Our results showed that AP attenuated the activation of macrophages, basophils, and inhibited the OVA-induced airway inflammation. The molecular mechanisms leading to AP's potent anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects might be through regulation of TRIF-dependent and Syk-PLC gamma/AKT signaling pathways, suggesting that AP may provide a valuable therapeutic strategy in treating various inflammatory diseases including asthma. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.