Antiasthmatic effect of Curcuma aeruginosa extract on isolated organ of the trachea

Background:Asthma is a major health problem worldwide. Antiasthma drugs have side effects and can be expensive. It is important to develop antiasthma drugs from medicinal plants that have fewer side effects and are cheaper. One of the medicinal plants used for antiasthma treatment comes fromCurcuma aeruginosa(Zingiberaceaefamily). The aim of the research is to examine spasmolytic activity of ethanol extract ofC. aeruginosaon isolated guinea pig tracheas to determine the antiasthma effects.Methods:The spasmolytic activity ofC. aeruginosaextracts was tested in separated organs of guinea pig trachea. Guinea pig was sacrificed and its trachea rings were suspended in L-shaped wire loops in organ baths containing the Krebs solution aerated with carbogen. Isometric contractions of tracheal rings were measured by the transducer coupled to the amplifier. The trachea rings were exposed to DMSO as negative control, aminophylline as positive control andC. aeruginosaextracts. The single concentration-relaxation curve was obtained in every preparation.Results:The result showed that the decrease of the spasmolytic activity in the guinea pig tracheal tone due toC. aeruginosaextract was significantly better (p=0.022) when compared to the negative control. Meanwhile, the EC50value of aminophylline (0.019 ± 0.05) was not significantly different (p=0.454) withC. aeruginosa(0.024 ± 0.05).Conclusion:It could be concluded thatC. aeruginosaextracts have the potency to be further developed as a new natural source of the antiasthma agents.

Tracheospasmolytic and anti-inflammatory activity of indigenous Curcuma species as traditional antiasthmatic medicines

Paramita S, Moerad EB, Ismail S, Marliana E. 2018. Tracheospasmolytic and anti-inflammatory activity of indigenous Curcuma species as traditional antiasthmatic medicines. Nusantara Bioscience 10: 105-110. Asthma is still a major health problem in the world. Antiasthma drugs raise the problem of side effects and medical expenses. Thus, it is necessary to develop medicinal plants based antiasthma drugs with fewer side effects and more affordable costs. The potential antiasthma medicinal plant came from the genus of Curcuma (Zingiberaceae family). Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) is the most prominent species in this genus and has been extensively studied for the treatment of asthma. However, there are other Curcuma indigenous species that are also traditionally used for asthma, namely Curcuma aeruginosa Roxb. and Curcuma mangga Val. Zijp. Both indigenous species have not been studied pharmacological activity as an antiasthma. This research was conducted to know the tracheospasmolytic activity of ethanol extract of C. aeruginosa and C. mangga on the separate organ of guinea pig trachea to determine the antiasthma effect. The research was also conducted to know anti-inflammatory activity with membrane stabilization test and inhibition of lipoxygenase. Results showed that C. aeruginosa and C. mangga had lower tracheospasmolytic activity when they were compared with aminophylline as a positive control. However, the EC50 value of C. aeruginosa (0.020 ± 0.004) and C. mangga (0.039 ± 0.005) were not significantly different with aminophylline (0.016 ± 0.005) as positive controls. The result of membrane stabilization test showed that the EC50 value of C. aeruginosa (47.76 ± 1.57) and C. mangga (67.50 ± 0.97) were high when they were compared with indomethacin (26.39 ± 2.91) as the positive control. Results of lipoxygenase inhibition test showed that the EC50 value of C. aeruginosa (-111.11 ± 2.30) and C. mangga (-101.98 ± 1.32) were high than that of indomethacin (-282.84 ± 7.41) as the positive control. These results show the potential use of C. aeruginosa and C. mangga as antiasthma via tracheospasmolytic activity in separate organs of guinea pig. They also had anti-inflammatory effect based on membrane stabilization and inhibition of lipoxygenase test.

The Significance of Hypothiocyanite Production via the Pendrin/DUOX/Peroxidase Pathway in the Pathogenesis of Asthma

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) are used as first-line drugs for asthma, and various novel antiasthma drugs targeting type 2 immune mediators are now under development. However, molecularly targeted drugs are expensive, creating an economic burden on patients. We and others previously found pendrin/SLC26A4 as a downstream molecule of IL-13, a signature type 2 cytokine critical for asthma, and showed its significance in the pathogenesis of asthma using model mice. However, the molecular mechanism of how pendrin causes airway inflammation remained elusive. We have recently demonstrated that hypothiocyanite (OSCN−) produced by the pendrin/DUOX/peroxidase pathway has the potential to cause airway inflammation. Pendrin transports thiocyanate (SCN−) into pulmonary lumens at the apical side. Peroxidases catalyze SCN− and H2O2 generated by DUOX into OSCN−. Low doses of OSCN− activate NF-κB in airway epithelial cells, whereas OSCN− in high doses causes necrosis of the cells, inducing the release of IL-33 and accelerating inflammation. OSCN− production is augmented in asthma model mice and possibly in some asthma patients. Heme peroxidase inhibitors, widely used as antithyroid agents, diminish asthma-like phenotypes in mice, indicating the significance of this pathway. These findings suggest the possibility of repositioning antithyroid agents as antiasthma drugs.

Asthma Controller Medications for Children in Japan

Background. Treatment and management strategies for asthma in children are generally consistent internationally, but prescription of antiasthma drugs differs among countries. The objective of this study was to examine the prescribing patterns of antiasthma drugs, particularly controller medications, in children. Methods. A retrospective cohort study was performed in children with asthma using an administrative claims database in Japan. Results. A total of 1149 preschool-age and 3226 school-age children were identified. Leukotriene receptor antagonists were prescribed for about 80% of the children. Long-acting β-agonists were prescribed for 87.6% and 59.6% of preschool-age and school-age children, respectively, whereas prescriptions of inhaled corticosteroids had lower rates of 8.2% and 16.5%, respectively. In an examination of prescriptions at 1-month intervals, a relatively high number of children were prescribed bronchodilators without anti-inflammatory agents. Conclusion. Our findings suggest that asthma care for children in Japan can be improved through changes in drug prescriptions.