Abies holophylla Leaf Essential Oil Alleviates Allergic Rhinitis Based on Network Pharmacology

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Pharmacology
• Respiratory Medicine

Background:

• Abies holophylla essential oil (AEO) exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-asthmatic properties.
• Asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR) share similar pathological mechanisms and treatments.
• AEO inhalation may offer therapeutic benefits for upper respiratory allergic conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the protective effects of AEO on allergic rhinitis (AR).
• To explore the underlying molecular mechanisms of AEO in AR using network pharmacology.
• To predict and validate AEO's therapeutic targets and pathways.

Main Methods:

• Network pharmacological analysis was used to predict AEO's target pathways.
• Allergic rhinitis was induced in BALB/c mice using ovalbumin (OVA) and particulate matter (PM10).
• Mice inhaled aerosolized AEO (0.0003% and 0.03%) for 7 weeks; nasal symptoms, histopathology, IgE, and ZO-1 expression were analyzed.

Main Results:

• AEO inhalation significantly reduced AR symptoms, including sneezing and rubbing.
• AEO treatment decreased nasal epithelial hyperplasia, goblet cell counts, and serum IgE levels.
• Network analysis indicated AEO's mechanism involves the IL-17 signaling pathway and tight junctions; this was validated in nasal epithelial cells.

Conclusions:

• AEO inhalation demonstrates potential as a treatment for allergic rhinitis.
• AEO alleviates nasal inflammation and helps restore nasal tissue integrity.
• The therapeutic effects of AEO are linked to modulation of the IL-17, NF-κB, and MAPK signaling pathways and recovery of tight junctions.