GA 2017

Asthma is an airway disorder characterized by immune pathophysiology and ever increasing worldwide prevalence [1]. In this study, we explored the potential benefits of stigmasterol in the treatment of asthma. We assessed the modulatory effect of the intraperitoneal administration of stigmasterol on experimentally-induced airway inflammation in guinea pigs [2]. The effect of stigmasterol on inflammatory cell proliferation, oxidative stress, lung histopathology and remodeling was investigated. The results showed significant suppressive effects on ovalbumin-induced airway inflammatory damage. Stigmasterol at 10 - 100 mg/kg reduced proliferation of eosinophils, lymphocytes and monocytes while reducing peribronchiolar, perivascular and alveolar infiltration of inflammatory cells. Histopathology revealed stigmasterol maintained lung architecture and reversed collagen deposition, an index of lung remodeling. Overexpression of serum vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and ovalbumin specific Immunoglobulin E (OVA sIgE) elicited by ovalbumin sensitization and challenge were significantly controlled with stigmasterol. The highest dose of stigmasterol, 100 mg/kg, recorded 56.1 ± 9.2% and 58.4 ± 11.2% inhibition of VCAM-1 and OVA sIgE levels respectively. Taken together, stigmasterol possessed significant anti-asthmatic properties and had suppressive effects on key features of allergen-induced asthma.

Key words: stigmasterol, allergy, asthma, ovalbumin-induced, inflammation

REFERENCES

[1] Pawankar R, Canonica GW, Holgate ST, and Lockey RF, “The World Allergy Organization (WAO) White Book on Allergy” World Allergy Organization 2011; 1-216.

[2] Corry DB, Kheradmand F, “Toward a comprehensive understanding of allergic lung disease”, Transactions of the American Clinical and Climatological Association. 2009; vol. 120, 33-48.