Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. methanol extract reduces inflammation and Th2 cytokine production in extended acute mice model of asthma

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the lower airways. Chronic treatment mainly with corticosteroids may lead to the development of adverse effects. The species Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. is used by the population in Brazil for the treatment of respiratory diseases. The objective of this work was to evaluate the action of methanolic extract of E. prostrata in an ovalbumin-induced asthma model. Animals were sensitized (ip.) on days 1st and 8th and challenged with ovalbumin (intranasal) 3x week on 2nd, 3rd, 4th weeks and 4x times at 5th week. The treatment was performed with the extract (doses 250 and 500 mg Kg-1) for 7 days in 5th week. The bronchoalveolar lavage and the lungs were collected. Total and differential cell count demonstrated that treatment decreased pulmonary inflammation and eosinophilia in treated animals. The cytokines analysis showed that the extract decreases the production of Th2, IL-4 and IL-5. We conclude that the use of phytomedicines produced from E. prostrata is useful in asthma treatment.