Therapeutic potential of Abelmoschus esculentus seed extract in asthmatic mice: Immunological analysis and histopathological evidence

Background: Seeds from Abelmoschus esculentus have strong anti-inflammatory properties and may effectively treat inflammatory diseases. Objective: This study explores the therapeutic potential of A. esculentus seed extract on bioactive components, hematological parameters, liver function tests, leukocytes, cytokines and histology in asthmatic mice. Methods: Mice were divided into six groups: The normal group, groups treated with A. esculentus (10, 15 and 20 mg/mL), a dexamethasone group (3 mg/mL) and an asthmatic control group. On days 1 and 14 after acclimation, all groups except the normal control received intraperitoneal injections of ovalbumin, followed by oral doses of A. esculentus (10, 15 and 20 mg/mL) or dexamethasone (3 mg/mL) during 15th to 26th day of the experiment. All treated groups were exposed to ovalbumin inhalation for three days afterward. Results: The bioactive components in the acetonic extract were identified through Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The primary bioactive compounds identified were fatty acids, flavonoids and phenolics. Mice given the extract showed improved liver enzyme levels, reduced leukocyte infiltration, alleviated airway constriction, lower cytokine levels (IgE, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13 and IL-17A) and normalized blood indices. Conclusion: In conclusion, the seed extract of A. esculentus has significant potential to reduce asthma symptoms in the asthmatic mouse model.