RESUMO
Glabridin, a polyphenolic flavonoid derived from Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) roots, has shown anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The current study sought to investigate glabridin's immunomodulatory effect in ovalbumin induced allergic asthma. Healthy male Wistar rats were divided into five groups. Group I served as a control group. Asthma was induced in groups II- IV. Groups III and IV were treated with glabridin (40 mg/kg) and methylprednisolone (15 mg/kg), respectively. Inflammatory cells counts were determined in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Serum IgE levels and levels of catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in lung homogenate were measured. The levels of mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory, anti-inflammatory and oxidative stress markers were analysed. Delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) and acute toxicity of glabridin were also checked. Glabridin significantly decreased inflammatory cells in the blood and BALF. It increased the concentration of antioxidant enzymes catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. Glabridin markedly decreased serum IgE levels and DTH when compared to asthmatic rats. It significantly alleviated the expression of TNF-α, IL-4, IL-5, CXCL1, iNOS, and NF-κB. Administering 10 times the therapeutic dose of glabridin did not show any signs of acute toxicity. Findings suggest that glabridin has the potential to ameliorate allergic asthma and its effects are comparable to those of methylprednisolone. The immunomodulatory effect of glabridin might be contributed by the suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress markers, IgE antibodies, and elevation of antioxidant enzymes, suggesting future study and clinical trials to propose it as a candidate to treat allergic asthma.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease with 2-4% of prevalence worldwide conferring a major burden on health systems. It is assumed that the prevalence might increase due to climatic change and deterioration of protective ozone barrier. With the chances of increasing prevalence, newer and specific treatment options need to be explored. Skin is a constant target of oxidative stress owing to continuous exposure to ultraviolet radiations. Oxidative stress is considered to have a central role in dermatological diseases, including psoriasis. This study was designed to explore the role of Humanin analogue (S14-G HNG) as an important anti oxidant for psoriasis like condition in BALB/c mice as till date the commomly used drugs for this disease are corticosteroids which have a dissatisfactory adverse effect profile in terms of chronic use. METHODOLOGY: Imiquimod 5% was used to induce Psoriasis like condition in mice, and the role of HNG was assessed through the histological examination, protein expressions and markers of oxidative stress. Two doses (low and high) of HNG were used and results were compared with an established drug methylprednisolone. KEY RESULT: Significant improvement was seen on histology, PASI scoring, protein expression and oxidative stress by the use of intraperitoneal injections of S14-G HNG and the results were comparable to those obtained through peritoneal injections of methylprednisolone. CONCLUSION: S14G-HNG can be considered as a suitable option for treatment of Psoriasis after clinical trials and it might prove to have lesser side effects as compared to other drugs employed for the treatment of psoriasis being an innate anti oxidant and anti apoptotic compound.