Search for


TEXT SIZE

search for




CrossRef (0)
The Inhibitory Effect of Duchesnea indica Extract on Mixed Granulocytic Asthma Due to Der p 38 by Inhibiting Neutrophil Apoptosis
Biomed Sci Letters 2024;30:219-227
Published online December 31, 2024;  https://doi.org/10.15616/BSL.2024.30.4.219
© 2024 The Korean Society For Biomedical Laboratory Sciences.

Geunyeong Kim1,2,* and In Sik Kim1,2,†,**

1Department of Senior Healthcare, Graduate School, Eulji University, Uijeongbu 11759, Korea
2Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, College of Health Sciences, Eulji University, Uijeongbu 11759, Korea
Correspondence to: †In Sik Kim
Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, College of Health Sciences, Eulji University, 712 Dongil-ro, Uijeongbu 11759, Korea
Tel: +82-31-951-3860, Fax: +82-31-951-3915
E-mail: orientree@eulji.ac.kr
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6072-8990

*Post-Doctor, **Professor.
Received September 4, 2024; Revised September 25, 2024; Accepted October 4, 2024.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
 Abstract
Objectives: Asthma is a prevalent chronic inflammatory lung disease characterized by symptoms such as wheezing, breathlessness, and coughing. Duchesnea indica (DI) or false strawberry exhibits a wide range of pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. This study aimed to determine whether DI extract exhibits anti-inflammatory effects and reduces the infiltration of neutrophils and eosinophils on mixed granulocytic asthma induced by Der p 38.
Methods: Cell culture, Western blotting, ELISA and asthma induction in mice were used for this study.
Results: DI extract had no cytotoxic effects on human lung epithelial BEAS-2B cells. DI extract inhibited the expressions of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) increased by Der p 38 and suppressed the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (AKT) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) associated with the secretion of inflammatory cytokines. Neutrophil apoptosis was delayed by Der p 38 and the delay was prevented by pretreatment with the DI extract. The pro-apoptotic effect due to the DI extract was associated with the activation of caspase 9 and caspase 3 and a decrease in the ratio of B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 protein (BCL-2)/BCL-2-associated protein X (BAX) expression. Also, the supernatant of the cells after treatment with Der p 38 alone resulted in suppression of neutrophil apoptosis and this was reversed by the DI extract co-treatment. In the Der p 38-induced asthma-like mice, DI administration blocked the infiltration of inflammatory cells, specifically neutrophils and eosinophils.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that DI extract has an anti-inflammatory effect on mixed-granulocytic asthma after exposure to Der p 38 and could be useful as a therapeutic agent for the management of asthma.
Keywords : Asthma, Duchesnea indica, Der p 38, Neutrophil, Inflammation