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Objective: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a pruritic, chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin disease. The research aims to study the effects of Sarsasapogenin and its combination with Fluticasone in 2, 4-Dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) induced atopic dermatitis in BALB/c mice., Material and Methods: Thirty male Balb/c mice were divided into 5 groups: (i) Normal control (NC), (ii) Disease control (DNFB), (iii) Sarsasapogenin (SG) (50 µg/mice), (iv) Fluticasone (FC) (50 µg/mice), (v) Sarsasapogenin + Fluticasone (SG + FC) combination (25 µg/mice). Dermatitis was induced by repeated application of DNFB in Balb/c mice. On topical application of SG, FC, and SG + FC combination on the ear and skin lesions, body weight, ear weight, ear thickness, erythema score, spleen weight, cytokines, immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels, nitric oxide (NO) level, hematological parameters, and oxidative stress markers were evaluated. Histological analysis of the ear tissue was also done., Results: The results stated that SG and SG + FC treatment to mice considerably decrease the ear weight, ear thickness, spleen weight, serum IgE, cytokines, NO levels, and restoration of antioxidant stress markers with elevation in the hematological parameters. The observations were further confirmed by histopathological analysis of ear tissue., Conclusion: These data specify that SG has been demonstrated as a probable therapy for the treatment of allergic skin diseases in combination with FC by decreasing its dose from 50 to 25 µg/mice to avoid the chronic side effects of FC. Hence, it can be concluded that SG and SG + FC combination significantly improved the AD-like symptoms in the DNFB sensitized mice through mitigating the production of proinflammatory mediators and restoration of oxidative stress markers.

Objective: Ulcerative colitis is common types of severe, progressive, idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease that involves the mucosal lining of the large intestine. The purpose of the study is to explore the effects of hecogenin in TNBS (2, 4, 6- trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid) induced ulcerative colitis model in rats., Material and Methods: Thirty Wistar rats were randomized into five groups: (i) Normal Control (NC), (ii) Disease Control (DC), (iii) Hecogenin (HG) (50 µg/rat), (iv) Fluticasone (FC) (50 µg/rat), (v) Hecogenin + Fluticasone (HG + FC) combination (25 µg/rat). Colitis was induced by trans-rectal administration of TNBS using a catheter inserted 8 cm into the rectal portion of the rat. Colitis was evaluated by an independent observer who was blinded to the treatment. All treatment group results were compared to the TNBS group results., Results: The study results revealed that treatment of rats with HG and HG + FC significantly improved the body weight and colon length whereas; decreased the spleen weight, colon weight/length ratio, macroscopic lesions score, diarrhea score and adhesion score. The drug treatment in rats substantially decreased the development of inflammatory cytokines, levels of serum immunoglobulin E, colonic nitric oxide contents and restoration of antioxidant stress markers. Histopathological colon sample study significantly reduced colonic inflammation with a substantial decrease in inflammation score., Conclusion: Thus, HG and HG + FC combination could change the pathogenesis of the disease and may be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of ulcerative colitis by a reduction in dose in conjunction with FC to prevent the persistent adverse effects associated with FC.

Objective: Asthma is a very common airway inflammatory disease for which the existing drug therapy options are insufficient. In this study, we explored the mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory potential of Sarsapogenin (SG) and its combination with Fluticasone (FC) in ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma in mice. Methods: In a standard experimental model, asthma in mice was sensitized and challenged by OVA. The mice were treated with SG and SG + FC during OVA challenge. At the completion, lung weight, inflammatory cell count in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), serum cytokines levels, immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels, lung nitrate/nitrite (NO) levels, and lung tissue oxidative stress biomarkers were determined. Histopathological evaluation of the lung tissue was also performed. Key findings: Treatment of mice with SG and SG + FC combination intensely diminished the trafficking of total and differential inflammatory cells count into BALF. SG and SG + FC administration significantly reduced the production of inflammatory cytokines, serum IgE levels and restoration of antioxidant stress markers. Histopathological analysis of lung samples effectually weakened bronchial inflammation and mucus production in the lung with a significant reduction in inflammation and mucus score. Conclusion: Our study results suggested that SG and SG + FC effectively reduced allergic airway inflammation via inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines, NO expressions and oxidative stress parameters. So, it could be used as a therapeutic potential agent for the treatment of asthma by decreasing its dose in combination with FC to avoid the chronic adverse effects of FC.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel condition considered by oxido-nitrosative stress and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines that affects the mucosal lining of the colon. Sarsasapogenin (SG), as an active component, has been found in many plants, and it exhibits potential protective effects, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-psoriasis, anti-arthritis, anti-asthma, anti-depressant and anti-cancer. However, the effects of SG on UC remain unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of SG on 2, 4, 6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced UC in rats. Thirty Wistar rats were randomized into five groups: (i) Normal control, (ii) Disease control (TNBS), (iii) Sarsasapogenin (SG) (50 µg/rat), (iv) Fluticasone (FC) (50 µg/rat), (v) Sarsasapogenin + Fluticasone (SG + FC) (25 µg/rat). UC was induced in rats by trans-rectal instillation of TNBS (10 mg/kg). SG, FC and SG + FC were administered for 11 days and on the 8th day colitis was induced. Several molecular, biochemical and histological alterations were evaluated in the colon tissue. All treatment group results were compared to the TNBS group results. The study results revealed that treatment of rats with SG and SG + FC combination significantly decreased the colon weight/length ratio, macroscopic inflammation score, lesions score, diarrhea score and adhesion score. Combination treatment in rats significantly reduced the production of biochemical parameters, proinflammatory cytokines, haematological parameters, serum IgE levels and restored the oxidative stress markers. SG and SG + FC treatment also considerably restored the histopathological changes induced by TNBS. Thus, SG and SG + FC combination could alter the disease progression and could be a hopeful therapeutic target for the management of UC by reducing its dose in combination with FC to elude the long term adverse effects of FC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Hecogenin is a sapogenin found in Agave sisalana species that is used extensively for the treatment of anti-inflammatory, antifungal, hypotensive, anti-nociceptive activity and cancer. We have studied the anti-inflammatory effect of Hecogenin and its combination with Fluticasone on atopic dermatitis and airway hyper-responsiveness in Balb/c mice. Material and methods: Dermatitis was induced by repeated application of 2, 4-dinitrofluorobenzene in Balb/c mice. After a topical application of Hecogenin, Fluticasone and their combination on the skin lesions, the ear thickness, ear weight and erythema score were evaluated. Asthma was induced by sensitization and challenge of ovalbumin in Balb/c mice. Results: The topical application of Hecogenin and its combination with Fluticasone in mice effectively suppressed the ear swelling and weight. As well as the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were decreased by Hecogenin and its combination in-vivo. Whereas, intra-nasal administration of Hecogenin and its combination in ovalbumin induced airway hyper-responsiveness reveals a significant decrement in total cell count, differential cell count and cytokines levels. Similar observations were obtained for myeloperoxidase level in ear and lung tissue. The results were supported by histological studies of ear and lung tissue. Conclusion: These data indicate that Hecogenin has been proved as a potential therapy for allergic skin diseases and bronchial asthma treatments in combination with Fluticasone by reducing its dose from 50 to 25 μg/mice in combination to circumvent the long term side effects of Fluticasone. The beneficial effect of Hecogenin may be related to the diminution of TNF-α and IL-12 cytokines production in Balb/c mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]