Maryam Hamzeloo-Moghadam - Traditional Medicine and Materia Medica Research Center and Department of Traditional Pharmacy, School of Traditional Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences
Sayyed Shamsadin Athari - Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
Hanieh Kashafroodi - Traditional Medicine and Materia Medica Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Tahereh Dargahi - Traditional Medicine and Materia Medica Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Leila Ara - Traditional Medicine and Materia Medica Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Rasool Choopani - Department of Traditional Medicine, School of Traditional Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Objective: Allergic asthma is a complex inflammatory disorder that affects the airways. As an ancient medical system, Iranian Traditional Medicine (ITM) recommends a polyherbal formula called “Monzej-e-balgham” for the treatment of asthma. In the present investigation, the antiasthmatic effects of “Monzej-e-balgham” were examined in a murine model of allergic asthma.Materials and Methods: Twenty-eight Balb/c mice weighing ۱۵-۲۰ g were allocated into ۴ groups. As negative and positive controls, groups I and II received phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and ovalbumin (OVA) solutions, respectively. Groups III and IV were first sensitized with OVA and then respectively treated with “Monzej-e-balgham” (۶۳ mg/kg) and budesonide. Finally, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissues of the animals were collected and used for eosinophil counting, Th۲ type interleukins (IL-۵, IL-۱۳, and IL-۳۳) measurement, and histological examinations.Results: “Monzej-e-balgham” significantly reduced the number of eosinophils and the levels of IL-۵, IL-۱۳, and IL-۳۳ in BALF specimens compared to OVA-sensitized group (p<۰.۰۵). It also ameliorated histopathological changes of the lung tissues such as goblet cells hyperplasia and mucus overproduction in comparison to group II. Interestingly, the results of the “Monzej-e-balgham”-treated group were comparable with those obtained for budesonide-inhaled mice.Conclusion: The present data indicated a mechanism that involves Th۲ inflammatory responses in allergic asthma and suggested a polyherbal mixture for the treatment of this disease.

Allergic asthma, BALB/c mice, Monzej-e-balgham, Iranian Traditional Medicine