Rosmarinic acid affects immunological and inflammatory mediator levels and restores lung pathological features in asthmatic rats

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BACKGROUND: The effects of rosmarinic acid (RA) on immunological and inflammatory mediator levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) as well as lung pathological changes in asthmatic rats were investigated. IFN-γ was significantly decreased in groups treated with two lower concentrations of RA but IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio was increased in groups treated with two higher concentrations of RA compared to asthma group (P<0.05 to P<0.001). Treatment with all doses of RA led to significant improvement in pathological scores in asthmatic animals (P<0.05 to P<0.001). Most measured parameters were also significantly improved in dexamethasone-treated animals (P<0.01 to P<0.001) but IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio and the scores of interstitial fibrosis, bleeding and epithelial damage did not change in this group. CONCLUSION: The results indicated a preventive effect for RA on immunological and inflammatory mediators as well as lung pathological changes in asthmatic rats which were comparable or even more potent than that of dexamethasone.