Hizikia fusiformis Ameliorates Allergic Inflammation in an Ova-induced Allergic Rhinitis Mouse Model.

Recently, several studies have reported that extract of Hizikia fusiformis (HF) shows the immune-modulatory, anti-cancer, anti-atopic and anti-oxidant activities. The anti-inflammatory activity of HF suggests applications for diverse disorders including allergic and auto-immune, and sinonasal relative disease. We hypothesized that HF would alleviate the allergic rhinitis inflammation. After establishment of allergic inflammation with OVA albumin in 4-week-old BALB/c mice, HF was administered intraperitoneally 5 times per week for one week during nasal challenging period in one group. The other group received addditional HF intraperitoneally 3 times during sensitization period. To compare its anti-inflammatory effects, triamcinolone acetonide (TAC) was utilized as a control drug. Histopathologic changes were evaluated using H&E stain for eosinophilic infiltration. The levels of IgG1, IgG2, Total IgE, ova-specific IgE was assessed. The levels of cytokines in the nasal mucosa were measured by Real-Time PCR. The levels of cytokines in spleen cell culture supernatant, including TNF, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13, IL-10, IL-17 were assessed by ELISA. The allergic symptom score, ova-specific IgE, IgG2 level were lower in HF treated group compared to the TAC-treated or OVA (+) group, which was more obvious in the mice group received HF during sensitization and nasal challenge period. The cytokine IL-4,5,13 and IL-17 were significantly lower in the HF treated group compared with OVA (+) group.The degree of eosinophilic infiltration was significantly decreased by instillation of HF, the potency being greater than TAC. This study demonstrated that HF can suppress Th2 and Th17 responses in an AR murine model.