Planta Med 2012; 78 - PD75
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1320433

Ursolic acid, a potential PPARγ agonist, suppresses Ovalbumin-induced airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness

SH Kim 1, JH Hong 2, YC Lee 2
  • 1Institute of Traditional Medicine and Bioscience, Daejeon University, Daejeon 300–716, Republic of Korea
  • 2Department of Herbology, College of Oriental Medicine, Sangji University,Wonju 220–702, Republic of Korea

Ursolic acid (UA) was known for its pharmacological effects, such as anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities. In BALB/c mice, we found that UA-treated groups had been suppressed eosinophil infiltration, allergic airway inflammation and AHR. Our data suggest that the therapeutic mechanism by which UA effectively treats asthma is based on reductions of Th2 cytokines (IL-5, IL-13), OVA-specific IgE production and eosinophil infiltration through Th2-STAT6 pathway and IL-17-NF-κB pathway.