The Effect of Curcuma longa on Inflammatory Mediators and Immunological, Oxidant, and Antioxidant Biomarkers in Asthmatic Rats

The effects of Curcuma longa ( C. longa ) on total and differential WBC, inflammatory and immunologic mediators, and oxidant and antioxidant biomarkers in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of rats model of asthma were assessed. Animals were divided to 5 groups including control (C), asthma (sensitized to ovalbumin), and asthmatic groups treated with 0.75, 1.50, and 3.00 mg/ml C. longa (CL) and 1.25  μ g/ml dexamethasone (D) (8 rats in each group). Total and differential WBC count, concentrations of phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2 ), total protein (TP), interferon-gamma (IFN- γ ), interleukin-4 (IL-4), immunoglobulin E (IgE), NO 2 , NO 3 , malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and thiol in BALF were assessed. Total and most differential WBC counts and BALF levels of PLA 2 , TP, IgE, IL-4, and oxidants in asthma group were higher but antioxidants and IFN- γ levels as well as IFN- γ /IL-4 ratio were lower than control group ( p  < 0.001 for all cases). Total WBC and levels of PLA 2 , IgE, NO 2 , and NO 3 were significantly reduced following treatment with C. longa , compared to asthma group ( p  < 0.001 for all cases). In groups treated with dexamethasone and two higher concentrations of C. longa , neutrophil and eosinophil counts as well as TP, IL-4, and MDA levels were significantly decreased but IFN- γ , IFN- γ /IL-4 ratio, and antioxidants were increased (except IFN- γ /IL-4 ratio), compared to asthma group ( p  < 0.05 to p  < 0.001). Compared to dexamethasone, C. longa exerted more pronounced effects on lung inflammation, oxidative stress, and immune system in asthmatic rats.