Camellia sinensis L. alleviates OVA-induced allergic asthma through NF-κB and MMP-9 pathways

Allergic asthma, a type of chronic airway inflammation, is a global health concern because of its increasing incidence and recurrence rates. Camellia sinensis L. yields a variety type of teas, which are also used as medicinal plants in East Asia and are known to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune-potentiating properties. Here, we examined the constituents of C. sinensis L. extract (CSE) and evaluated the protective effects of CSE on allergic asthma by elucidating the underlying mechanism. To induce allergic asthma, we injected the sensitization solution (mixture of ovalbumin (OVA) and aluminum hydroxide) into mice intraperitoneally on days 0 and 14. Then, the mice were exposed to 1% OVA by a nebulizer on days 21 to 23, while intragastric administration of CSE (30 and 100 mg/kg) was performed each day on days 18 to 23. We detected five compounds in CSE, including (-)-epigallocatechin, caffeine, (-)-epicatechin, (-)-epigallocatechin gallate, and (-)-epicatechin gallate. Treatment with CSE remarkably decreased the airway hyperresponsiveness, OVA-specific immunoglobulin E level, and inflammatory cell and cytokine levels of mice, with a decrease in inflammatory cell infiltration and mucus production in lung tissue. Treatment with CSE also decreased the phosphorylation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and the expression of matrix-metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 in asthmatic mice. Our results demonstrated that CSE reduced allergic airway inflammation caused by OVA through inhibition of phosphorylated NF-κB and MMP-9 expression.