Liriopis tuber inhibit OVA-induced airway inflammation and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in murine model of asthma.

Liriope platyphylla is one of the well-known herb used in oriental medicine for treatment asthma and bronchial and lung inflammation. Anti-asthmatic effects of Liriope platyphylla in the development of OVA-induced airway inflammation and murine asthma model have not been fully investigated in vivo. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the mucosa and is associated with excess production of Th2 cytokines and eosinophil accumulation in lung. To clarify the anti-inflammatory and anti-asthmatic effects of Liriope platyphylla, we examined the influence of liriopis tuber (LRT) on the development of pulmonary eosinophilic inflammation in murine model of asthma. Our results have shown that LRT were demonstrated on the accumulation of eosinophills into airways, with reduction of eosinophil, total lung leukocytes numbers by reduction IL-5, IL-13, IL-4 and IgE levels in the BALF and serum. Moreover, LRT decreased eosinophil CCR3 expression and CD11b expression in lung cells. These results indicate that LRT has a deep inhibitory effects on airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness in murine model of asthma and play an crucial role as a immunomodulator which possess anti-inflammatory and anti-asthmatic property by modulating the relationship between Th1/Th2 cytokine imbalance.