Ethanol Extract of Perilla frutescens Suppresses Allergen-Specific Th2 Responses and Alleviates Airway Inflammation and Hyperreactivity in Ovalbumin-Sensitized Murine Model of Asthma

Abstract EN

This study was to investigate the effects of different fractions of Perilla frutescens (Pf)leaves extracted by water or ethanol on asthma.

BALB/c mice sensitized intraperitoneally andchallenged with ovalbumin (OVA) were divided into six groups.

Each group of mice wastube-feeding with 0 (control), 80 μg (PfWL), or 320 μg (PfWH) water extracts or 80 μg(PfEL) or 320 μg (PfEH) ethanol extracts of perilla leaves daily for 3 weeks.

A negativecontrol group (PBS) was neither sensitized nor treated with Pf.

The effects of perilla leaveextracts on allergic immune response were evaluated.

The results showed that OVA-specificIL-5 and IL-13 secretions from OVA-stimulated splenocytes were significantly suppressed inthe ethanol extract groups PfEL and PfEH.

Serum level of anti-OVA IgE tended to be lower inthe PfEH group.

The inflammatory mediators, such as eotaxin and histamine, and total cells,particularly eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), were also decreased in thePfEL and the PfEH groups.

Therefore, the PfEL and the PfEH groups had significantly lowermethacholine-induced hyperresponsiveness (AHR).

In conclusion, ethanol extracts, rather thanwater extract, of perilla leaves could significantly suppress Th2 responses and airwayinflammation in allergic murine model of asthma.