Administration of isoferulic acid improved the survival rate of lethal influenza virus pneumonia in mice.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Isoferulic acid (IFA) is a main active ingredient of the rhizoma of Cimicifuga beracleifolia, which is used frequently in Japanese traditional medicine as an anti-inflammatory drug. It has been revealed that IFA inhibits the production of macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2), which is a murine counterpart of the chemokine family that may contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases through the chemotactic activity for inflammatory and immune effector cells.

AIM OF THE STUDY:

In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effect of IFA on the progression of lethal influenza virus pneumonia in mice by comparison with that of dexamethasone (DX), a potent inhibitor for various inflammatory cytokines including MIP-2.

METHODS:

Mice were infected by intranasal inoculation of influenza virus under ether anesthesia. The IFA or DX was given by oral administration once daily for 4 days after infection. After infection, the survival rate and the change in body weight were daily monitored.

RESULTS:

IFA administration markedly improved the survival rate and body weight loss of influenza virus-infected mice in a suitable dose range (0.5 mg/day). However, DX administration did not show a beneficial effect at any dose.

CONCLUSION:

These data suggested that IFA is a novel tool not only for the intervention therapy, but also for the studies on the pathogenesis of influenza virus-induced pneumonia.

• Authors: S Sakai, H Ochiai, N Mantani, T Kogure, N Shibahara, K Terasawa
• Journal: Mediators of inflammation (Mediators Inflamm) Vol. 10 Issue 2 Pg. 93-6 (Apr 2001) ISSN: 0962-9351 [Print] United States
• PMID: 11405556 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Cinnamates
• Dexamethasone
• isoferulic acid

Topics

• Animals
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (therapeutic use)
• Cinnamates (therapeutic use)
• Dexamethasone (therapeutic use)
• Influenza A virus (drug effects, pathogenicity)
• Japan
• Medicine, East Asian Traditional
• Mice
• Orthomyxoviridae Infections (drug therapy, mortality)
• Pneumonia, Viral (drug therapy, mortality)