Anti-inflammatory actions of herbal medicines in a model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease induced by cigarette smoke.

Biomed Pharmacother. 2018 Mar;99:591-597. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.01.106. Epub 2018 Feb 20. Possebon L1, de Souza Lima Lebron I2, Furlan da Silva L3, Tagliaferri Paletta J4, Glad BG5, Sant'Ana M6, Iyomasa-Pilon MM7, Ribeiro Souza H8, de Souza Costa S9, Pereira da Silva Rodriguesa G10, Pereira ML11, de Haro Moreno A12, Girol AP13. Author information 1 Integrated College Padre Albino Foundation (FIPA), Catanduva, SP, Brazil; São Paulo State University, (UNESP), Institute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences (IBILCE), São José do Rio Preto Campus, Department of Biology, Laboratory of Immunomorphology, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: lucas_possebon@hotmail.com. 2 Integrated College Padre Albino Foundation (FIPA), Catanduva, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: isa0409lebron@gmail.com. 3 Integrated College Padre Albino Foundation (FIPA), Catanduva, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: ligia_lds@hotmail.com. 4 Integrated College Padre Albino Foundation (FIPA), Catanduva, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: jujupaletta@yahoo.com.br. 5 Municipal Institute of Higher Education of Catanduva (IMES), Catanduva, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: brunaglad@hotmail.com. 6 São Paulo Federal University (UNIFESP) São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: monibiologia@yahoo.com.br. 7 Integrated College Padre Albino Foundation (FIPA), Catanduva, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: melmzk@gmail.com. 8 Integrated College Padre Albino Foundation (FIPA), Catanduva, SP, Brazil; São Paulo State University, (UNESP), Institute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences (IBILCE), São José do Rio Preto Campus, Department of Biology, Laboratory of Immunomorphology, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: helena.riber@hotmail.com. 9 Integrated College Padre Albino Foundation (FIPA), Catanduva, SP, Brazil; São Paulo State University, (UNESP), Institute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences (IBILCE), São José do Rio Preto Campus, Department of Biology, Laboratory of Immunomorphology, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: sarah_sc_0705@hotmail.com. 10 Integrated College Padre Albino Foundation (FIPA), Catanduva, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: gi.psr@uol.com.br. 11 Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Department of Biology and CICECO Aveiro Portugal. Electronic address: mlourdespereira@ua.pt. 12 Integrated College Padre Albino Foundation (FIPA), Catanduva, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: ahmoreno@bol.com.br. 13 Integrated College Padre Albino Foundation (FIPA), Catanduva, SP, Brazil; São Paulo State University, (UNESP), Institute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences (IBILCE), São José do Rio Preto Campus, Department of Biology, Laboratory of Immunomorphology, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: anapaulagirol@hotmail.com. Abstract The effects of four medicinal herbs (Arctium lappa, Plantago major, Mikania glomerata Spreng and Equisetum arvense) with anti-inflammatory properties were evaluated in a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) model. Wistar rats were exposed to cigarette smoke during 8 weeks and one of the groups was orally given a solution containing 4% of each alcoholic herbal extracts during the exposure period. Control group was not exposed to smoke or treated. Histopathological, immunohistochemical and biochemical analyzes were performed. Normal blood plasma levels of gamma glutamyl transferase indicated no toxicity of the administered herbal extracts. The treatment reduced leukocytes influx in bronchoalveolar lavage, mast cell and macrophages numbers in lungs, as well as prevented pulmonary congestion and tracheal metaplasia. Herbal mixture also decreased plasma inflammatory mediator levels and pulmonary expression of annexin A1 and nuclear factor-k?. Our data indicate synergistic and protective effects of the used herbal medicines in animals exposed to cigarette smoke as a potential therapeutic strategy. KEYWORDS: COPD; Histopathology; Inflammatory mediators; Phytotherapy; Smoking