Evaluation of the protective and therapeutic effects of Pistacia atlantica gum aqueous extract on cellular and pathological aspects of experimental asthma in Balb/c mice

Abstract

<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Objective:</strong> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective and therapeutic effects of aqueous extract of <em>P. atlantica </em></span><span style="font-size: medium;">gum on an experimental asthma in BALB/c mice.</span><br /> <span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Materials and Methods:</strong> Aqueous extract </span><span style="font-size: medium;">of dried and milled <em>P. atlantica </em></span><span style="font-size: medium;">gum was assemble and</span><span style="font-size: medium;">evaluate by GC-MS. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">In order to investigate the effect of </span><em><span style="font-size: medium;">P. atlantica </span></em><span style="font-size: medium;">gum extract on cellular and pathological aspects of asthma, 60 BALB/c mice were divided into six groups as: negative control, asthmatic group, asthmatic group receiving dexamethasone (1mg/kg; intraperitoneal (IP)) and three asthmatic groups receiving different concentrations of the extract (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, orally) from the beginning of the study and continued for 84 days. The examined parameters included cell population, IgE antibody production, levels of IL-4, IL-5,</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> TGF-β, INF-γ, IL-10, and IL-17 cytokines, and lung tissue damage. </span><br /> <strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Results:</span></strong><span style="font-size: medium;"> Regardless of the dose, aqueous extract of <em>P. atlantica </em></span><span style="font-size: medium;">gum, caused significant decrease in the number of BALF eosinophilic cells and levels of anti-ovalbumin IgE, IL-4, IL-5 and IL-17 cytokine levels, as well as pathologic damage of the lung tissue. In addition, the amount of anti-inflammatory IL-10, TGF-β, and INF-γ Th1 cytokines significantly increased in the extract-treated groups compared to the asthmatic and dexamethasone-treated groups. Moreover, IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner compared to the un-treated asthma group. </span><br /> <strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Conclusion:</span></strong><span style="font-size: medium;"> The aqueous extract of <em>P. atlantica </em></span><span style="font-size: medium;">gum can be considered as a potent anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory compound and </span>may be used as a natural compound for treatment of immune system disorders.