Background: Tetrahydrocurcumin (THC) is the major active metabolite of curcumin, which is a dietary factor derived from Curcuma species. Our previous study demonstrated a significant beneficial effect of THC in mice with allergic asthma. Glucocorticosteroids (GCs) are commonly used drugs in asthma. Whether THC supplementation could promote the beneficial effects of GC therapy on asthma has not yet been reported. The current study aimed to investigate the combined efficacy of GC and THC treatment in a mouse model of allergic asthma. Methods: BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 5 groups: the control group, ovalbumin (OVA)-induced group, and OVA-induced mice treated with dietary THC only, intraperitoneal injection of dexamethasone (DEX) only, or THC combined with DEX. The nasal symptoms, histopathological alterations of lung tissues, lung cytokine production, and Th cell subsets were assessed. Results: THC or DEX had beneficial effects on nasal symptoms and pathological lung changes, and the therapeutic effects between THC and DEX treatment were comparable. Importantly, compared to the monotherapy groups (THC or DEX only), the combination of THC and DEX showed a significantly reduced nasal rubbing frequency, lower mucus hyperproduction, lower Th2 and Th17 cell numbers as well as lower related cytokine levels (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-17A). Conclusions: Supplementation with THC can enhance the therapeutic effects of DEX to alleviate airway symptoms, lung inflammation, and the Th2 response. Our findings suggest that dietary administration of THC could act as an add-on therapy for asthma treated with GCs.
Int Arch Allergy Immunol

中文翻译：

---

补充四氢姜黄素可增强地塞米松在小鼠过敏性哮喘模型中的治疗效果。

背景：四氢姜黄素（THC）是姜黄素的主要活性代谢物，姜黄素是源自姜黄属物种的饮食因子。我们之前的研究表明，THC对过敏性哮喘小鼠具有明显的有益作用。糖皮质激素（GCs）是哮喘中常用的药物。补充THC是否能促进GC治疗对哮喘的有益作用尚未见报道。当前的研究旨在研究GC和THC在过敏性哮喘小鼠模型中的综合疗效。方法：BALB / c小鼠随机分为5组：对照组，卵白蛋白（OVA）诱导组和仅用饮食性THC，仅腹膜内注射地塞米松（DEX）或THC联合DEX治疗的OVA诱导小鼠。评估了鼻部症状，肺组织的组织病理学改变，肺细胞因子的产生和Th细胞亚群。结果： THC或DEX对鼻部症状和病理性肺部改变具有有益作用，并且THC和DEX的治疗效果相当。重要的是，与单一疗法组（仅THC或DEX）相比，THC和DEX的组合显示出显着降低的鼻揉搓频率，较低的粘液过度产生，较低的Th2和Th17细胞数以及较低的相关细胞因子水平（IL-4， IL-5和IL-17A）。结论：补充四氢大麻酚可增强DEX减轻气道症状，肺部炎症和Th2反应的治疗作用。我们的研究结果表明，饮食中THC可以作为GC治疗哮喘的附加疗法。
Int Arch过敏免疫