The Effect of Natural Adjuvants on Pathological Changes in Sensitized Guinea Pig Lungs

BACKGROUND Anti-inflammatory effect of natural adjuvants has been reported. Lung inflammation is the most characterized pathological feature in asthma. OBJECTIVES The effects of three natural adjuvants (PC, G2, and G2F registered as a patent in the Iranian Patent Office) on sensitized guinea pigs lungs were examined in the present study. MATERIALS AND METHODS LUNG PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES WERE EXAMINED IN CONTROL AND FIVE GROUPS OF RANDOMLY DIVIDED GUINEA PIGS INCLUDING: sensitized animals (S, receiving normal saline, 0.5 ml i.p.); sensitized animals treated with adjuvant PC; G2F (0.1 ml i.p. for both cases); G2 (0.4 ml i.p.); and PC + G2 (receiving both PC and G) adjuvants (twice a week for 4 weeks for all groups). Sensitization of animals was done by injection and inhalation of ovalbumin (OA). RESULTS All pathological changes in S group including the eosinophil infiltration (scoring 3.28 ± 0.28), lymphocyte infiltration (2.82 ± 0.26), local epithelial necrosis (2.71 ± 0.47) and mucosal plug (2.75 ± 0.37) were significantly higher than control group (0.64 ± 0.18, 1.36 ± 0.24, 0.36 ± 0.18 and 0.28 ± 0.18 for eosinophil infiltration, lymphocyte infiltration, epithelial necrosis and mucosal plug respectively, P < 0.001 for all cases). Treatment with all adjuvants improved all pathological changes significantly (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS These results indicate preventive effects of all natural adjuvants (especially G2) on pathological changes of the lung in sensitized guinea pigs.