THE EFFECT OF GRADED DOSES OF KOLAVIRON AND SALBUTAMOL IN OVALBUMIN INDUCED ASTHMATIC GUINEA PIGS ON THE GENE EXPRESSION OF INTERLEUKIN-1B

ABSTRACT

The symptoms of bronchial asthma include acute, recurring, and chronic episodes of severe airway constriction. The trachea and bronchi are more sensitive to various stimuli, which defines it. A complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors leads to a global health problem. Of all the different respiratory conditions that affect people, bronchial asthma is the most common and severe one. It is estimated that 1% to up to 18% of the general population will experience the illness at some point in their lives .The aim of this study is to evaluate the anti-asthmatic effect of kolaviron on ovalbumin induced asthma and interleukin 1b gene expression in guinea pig animal model Adult guinea pigs weighing 70.8 g  of either sex were purchased. They were given a two-week acclimation period in the animal home of the University of Benin's School of Basic Medical Sciences' Department of Anatomy. the animals were given 0.2% histamine dihydrochloride aerosol in a glass chamber measuring 60 x 56 x 60 cm using an Omron® (Omron Healthcare Ltd, Japan) compressor nebulizer (rate of 0.4 ml/min and particle size of 5 m) until dyspnea (PCD) was noticed. The results show that albumin up-regulated the expression of interleukin-1B gene in ovalbumin induced asthmatic guinea pigs (*p < 0.05) when compared to control. It shows that kolaviron extract at 25 mg/kg and at 50 mg/kg up-regulated interleukin-1B gene in ovalbumin induced asthma in guinea pigs when compared to normal control (*p < 0.05). Kolaviron extract at 100 mg/kg showed a significant down-regulation of the interleukin-1B gene when compared to positive control (albumin) (# p < 0.05). This studyshowed that kolaviron has a significant antiasthmatic effect on asthma induced by ovalbumin. Its effect was seen in its ability to reduce the onset of dyspnea (allergy response) and in reduction of interleukin1-b gene expression in mucus of the airways of ovalbumin induced asthma. This result gives credence to the ethnomdicinal use of kolaviron for asthma.