Azadirachta indica attenuates airway inflammation and oxidative stress in the asthmatic mice

Abstract

Azadirachta indica Linn (A. indica), is a marvelous traditional Indian medicine with a key therapeutics role in health management. Studies have revealed the anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and antioxidative role of A. indica. Inflammatory immune cells generate high level of ROS for stimulated severe AHR and airway inflammation. Therefore, the present study is designed to investigate the ameliorating potentiality of the leaves extract of A. indica in the OVA-induced lung injury, airway inflammation and oxidative stress. BALB/c mice were sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA) to induce asthma symptoms and prednisolone was used as a standard drug for treatment. The animals were divided into six groups: Group I: Untreated control mice, Group II: Ova-induced asthmatic mice, Group III: Prednisolone treated ova-induced asthmatic mice, Group IV: Vehicle treated ova-induced asthmatic mice, Group V: A. indica (100mg/kgBW/day) treated ova-induced asthmatic mice, Group VI: A. indica (200mg/kgBW/day) treated ova-induced asthmatic mice. Mice were sacrificed by cervical dislocation 24 hrs after the last challenge. Further, broncheoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), serum and lungs were collected to study the cell count, activity of EPO, ROS generation, antioxidative enzyme activities, and histology of lungs. The results expressed bronchoconstriction in the lungs of asthmatic group marked by elevated total and differential cell count. Further, the antioxidant enzyme activities were also altered with enhanced ROS production. The alterations observed in the asthmatic mice were significantly ameliorated following treatment with A. indica leaf extract as compared to the standard drug, prednisolone treated mice and control group. The findings suggest therapeutic potentiality of A. indica for ameliorating asthma symptoms in the future.