hydro-ethanolic extract of portulaca oleracea ameliorates total and differential wbc, lung pathology and oxidative biomarkers in asthmatic rats

The effects of portulaca oleracea (p. oleracea; po) on total and differential wbc count,and oxidant/antioxidant biomarkers in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (balf) as well as on lungpathology in asthmatic rats were examined. rats were randomly divided into; control group(c), asthma group, asthma groups treated with either p. oleracea (rats that received po 1, 2and 4 mg/ml) or dexamethasone 1.25 μg/ml (d), (n = 8 in each group). total and differentialwhite blood cells (wbc) count, nitrite (no_2), nitrate (no_3), malondialdehyde (mda),superoxide dismutase (sod), catalase (cat) and thiol levels in rats balf were evaluatedand lung pathological features were studied. total wbc count, eosinophil, neutrophil andmonocyte percentages, levels of no_2, no_3, mda in the balf and most pathological scoresin the lung were increased but lymphocyte percentage, sod, cat and thiol levels weredecreased in the balf of asthmatic animals (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). treatment with p.oleracea significantly reduced total wbc, neutrophil, eosinophil, monocyte, no_2, and no_3,mda, interstitial fibrosis, emphysema, interstitial inflammation and epithelial damage, butincreased lymphocyte, sod, cat and thiol levels compared to asthma group (p < 0.05 to p <0.001). dexamethasone-treated rats also showed significant improvements in most parameterscompared to asthma group (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). our results demonstrated the ameliorativeeffects of p. oleracea on total and differential wbc count and oxidant-antioxidant biomarkerslevels in balf as well as lung pathological features in asthmatic rats, which propose the usageof this extract as a preventive anti-inflammatory treatment against asthma.