Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Inhibitory effect of Asparagus officinalis extract on allergic asthma in Swiss albino mice

Doaa M Elnagar , Sarah A Banaeem, Wejdan S AL-Qahtani, Norah M Al-Qahtani, Ahmed M Rady, Khalid E Ibrahim, Aisha H Alqarni, Shaden A Alshareef, Samiah A Almalki, Nuha M Alabdulhadi

Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, PO Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia;

For correspondence:- Doaa Elnagar Email: elnagard1@yahoo.com Tel:+966554425428

Accepted: 5 May 2024 Published: 29 May 2024

Citation: Elnagar DM, Banaeem SA, AL-Qahtani WS, Al-Qahtani NM, Rady AM, Ibrahim KE, et al. Inhibitory effect of Asparagus officinalis extract on allergic asthma in Swiss albino mice. Trop J Pharm Res 2024; 23(5):825-831 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v23i5.4

© 2024 The authors.
This is an Open Access article that uses a funding model which does not charge readers or their institutions for access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0) and the Budapest Open Access Initiative (http://www.budapestopenaccessinitiative.org/read), which permit unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited..

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the inhibitory effect of Asparagus officinalis extract (AOE) on allergic asthma induced by carrageenan (CGN).

Methods: Forty male mice were divided into 4 groups: the 1st group was untreated control; 2nd group was treated orally and daily with 500 mg/kg AOE for one week; the 3rd group was treated with single dose of CGN 2 %w/v (200 µL/mice) intraperitoneally and left for one week; while the 4th group was treated first with CGN as in 3rd group and treated with AOE as 2nd group after CGN injection for one week. After treatment, the animals were sacrificed and blood samples were subjected to white blood cell count. IL6 and TNF-α were measured in the lung homogenate while histopathological analysis was performed for lung samples.

Results: A single dose of CGN resulted in significant increase in white blood cell (WBC) count and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL6 and TNF-α; p < 0.05). Histopathological analysis showed severe lung alterations such as accumulation of infiltration cells that blocked alveolar sacs, over-secretion of collagenous fibers, extracellular matrix and hyaline membranes. Moreover, treatment with AOE after CGN injection significantly reduced WBC count (p = 0) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) that were raised by CGN (p = 0). Furthermore, AOE reduced the pathological signs that were induced by CGN leading to improvement of lung function and reduction of collagenous fibers and hyaline membranes.

Conclusion: Asparagus officinalis extract reduces the allergic effect and lung pathological signs induced by CGN. Since AOE inhibits the production of inflammatory cytokines, it has the potential to be developed as a source of active pharmaceutical ingredients for the management of lung and airway injury.

Keywords: Carrageenan, Asparagus officinalis extract, Lung, Allergy, Cytokines