Inhibitory Effect of Brassica rapa in Ovalbumin-Stimulated Experimental Asthmic Mice

To evaluate antiallergic effect of Brassica rapa Metzg (BR, Family Cruciferae), which is widely used as a food source, its anti-asthmic effect was investigated. BR reduced IgE level in the blood of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthmic mice. BR also inhibited IgE and ploinflammatory cytokine IL-6 productions in trachea of OVA-induced mice, but did not inhibit IL-4 production. BR did not inhibit mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-4 in IgE-induced RBL-2H3 cells. BR and its isolated components 10-undecenoic acid 2-methoxy methyl ester and galactosyl diglyceride potently inhibited the NO production of RAW264.7cells induced by lipopolysaccharide. These findings suggest that the anti-asthmic effect of BR may be due to the inhibition of the biosynthesis of proinflarnmatory cytokine IL-6 in macrophage and BR can improve IgE-induced allergic disease asthma.