Coronopus didymus (L) sm. extracts per se and in combination with ferulic acid ameliorate allergic asthma through moderating aquaporins, inflammatory cytokines, and oxidative stress

Abstract

Asthma is a chronic heterogeneous illness that is clinically characterized by excessive mucous production and swelling of the airways due to hyperresponsiveness. The purpose of this work was to confirm the traditional usage of the food plant Coronopus didymus (CD) against ovalbumin-induced asthmatic symptoms, as well as chemical characterization of the extract by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. After ovalbumin administration on days 1 and 14, oral therapy was carried out individually with CD aqueous ethanolic extract (CDAEE) and aqueous extract (CDAE) at 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg from day 15 to 26. In addition, the therapeutic effect of ferulic acid (FA) 100 mg/kg was investigated alone and in combination with CDAEE 800 mg/kg and CDAE 800 mg/kg. Dexamethasone served as a standard drug. Both extracts and combination groups profoundly (p < 0.0001–0.05) reduced the leukocyte count and immunoglobulin E level. Histopathology revealed that all therapies had reduced the infiltration of inflammatory cells and hyperplasia. Both extracts and combination groups exhibited a substantial (p < 0.0001–0.05) decrease in TNF-α, IL-4, IL-6, IL-5, IL-13, NF-κβ, and IL-1β, while upregulation of the aquaporins 1 and 5. Both extracts and combination groups dose-dependently restored the oxidative stress markers. Both extracts demonstrated considerable anti-asthmatic activity, particularly a combination of CDAEE 800 mg/kg and FA 100 mg/kg, which might be attributed to bioactive compounds such as isoamyl lactate, benzyl nitrile, methoxy acetic acid, 2-ethoxypentane and benzoic acid detected by GC–MS analysis.

Keywords

• Ovalbumin-induced asthma
• Coronopus didymus
• Aquaporins
• Anti-asthmatic activity
• Immunoglobulin E
• Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry