Anti-asthmatic activities of the extract of Lonicera japonica

The anti-asthmatic activities of the extract of Lonicera japonica (BuOH fraction) and its mode of action were investigated using several in vitro and in vivo models. Lonicera japonica was extracted with 30% ethanol (v/v) and successively partitioned into BuOH. The BuOH fraction reduced antigen-induced contraction of isolated trachea from sensitized guinea pigs in a concentration-dependent manner. The BuOH fraction also inhibited histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells induced by antigen or calcium ionophore A23187 (IC₅₀=0.26 and 0.32 mg/ml, respectively). Eosinophil infiltration into bronchoalveolar lavage fluids induced by aeroallergen challenge in passively sensitized guinea pigs was inhibited by the BuOH fraction at a dose of 800 mg/kg (51.7%). In addition, the BuOH fraction inhibited leukotriene B₄ prodution in rat basophilic leukemia cells (IC₅₀=0.42 mg/ml) as well as phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) isolated from rat brain (IC₅₀=0.015 mg/ml). All results from this study strongly suggest that the BuOH fraction of Lonicera japonica may be useful in the treatment of asthma and its mode of action may be related with inhibition of both 5- lipoxygenase and PDE4 enzyme.