Unveiling the Potent Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Silymarin in a Mouse Model of Allergic Asthma.

Allergic asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by airway inflammation and hyper-responsiveness. Silymarin is a natural compound recognized for its potential anti-inflammatory properties in various conditions, including asthma. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of silymarin on a mouse model of allergic asthma. Thirty-five mice were categorized into five groups (n = 7 per group). The normal control group received phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), while the remaining four groups were induced with allergic asthma using ovalbumin (OVA). One sensitized group was treated with PBS (Asthma/Baseline), another received beclomethasone, and two groups were administered silymarin (25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg) intraperitoneally. Subsequently, we quantified the changes in inflammatory cell influx in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and the levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in BALF and blood. Histopathological alterations of leukocytes were examined in the lung tissues of all animals. The results showed that silymarin reduced inflammatory cells, including eosinophils and lymphocytes, in the BALF. Additionally, the silymarin-treated groups exhibited decreased IL-4 levels and increased IFN-γ levels in the blood, surpassing the effects of beclomethasone. Furthermore, histopathological analysis demonstrated a significant decrease in leukocyte infiltration following silymarin treatment. Our findings demonstrate the anti-inflammatory effects of silymarin in allergic asthma, likely through the modulation of inflammatory cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]