Exploring the anti-inflammatory effects of Lavandula stoechas L. extract on ovalbumin-induced acute asthma in BALB/c mice

Objective: Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the respiratory system affecting over ۳۰۰ million people worldwide. Lavandula stoechas L. (L. stoechas) has traditionally been used to manage inflammatory diseases and against multiple medical conditions. In this study, we aimed to explore the anti-inflammatory effects of the hydro-alcoholic extract of L. stoechas in a mice model of acute asthma.Materials and Methods: Thirty-five male BALB/c mice were placed into five distinct study groups: (۱) control, (۲) ovalbumin (OVA) + Al(OH)۳, (۳) OVA + L. stoechas (۲۰۰ mg/kg), (۴) OVA + L. stoechas (۳۰۰ mg/kg) and (۵) OVA + dexamethasone. Sensitization of the mice involved intraperitoneal administration of ۷۵ µg OVA + ۲mg Al(OH)۳ on days ۱ and ۸. Subsequently, between days ۱۵ and ۱۷, the mice underwent intranasal challenges with ۵۰ µg of OVA. On days ۱۳–۱۸, the mice were administered either L. stoechas (۲۰۰ and ۳۰۰ mg/kg) orally or dexamethasone intraperitoneally (used as a positive control). On day ۱۹, both bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and lung tissue samples were collected for biochemical and immuno-histological analyses.Results: The L. stoechas extract-treated groups displayed notable reductions in histological alterations and inflammatory cell infiltration, surpassing the effects observed in the OVA group. Moreover, the L. stoechas treatment group exhibited lowered TNF-α and IL-۶ expression levels.Conclusion: Our results demonstrated the potential of L. stoechas as an anti-inflammatory agent in acute asthma.

کلیدواژه ها:

Acute asthma ، Anti-inflammatory ، Lavandula stoechas L ، Ovalbumin