Syeda Tahira Zaidi, Rukhsana Kausar, Mahwash Malik, Javeria Sarfraz, Abdullah Shafiq, Sadia Chiragh.
Comparison of Berberine and Dexamethasone on Blood and Bronchial Inflammatory Cells of Ovalbumin Sensitized Guinea Pigs.
Esculapio J Services Inst Med Sci Jan ;17(1):34-8.

Objective: To compare the anti-inflammatory effects of berberine and dexamethasone in ovalbumin sensitized guinea pigs. Methods: This experimental controlled study was conducted in April, 2016 at Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lahore. Twenty- four healthy guinea pigs were selected for study. Six of these were assigned randomly in each group; normal control, ovalbumin (OVA) sensitized, berberine treated and dexamethasone treated groups. Airway inflammation was induced on day 0 and 14 by OVA injections via peritoneal route and by inhalation on 25th, 26th and 27th day in each group excluding the normal control. Berberine (1.8 mg/kg) and dexamethasone (20 mg/kg) were introduced via peritoneal route 30 minutes earlier to each trial in berberine treated and dexamethasone treated groups respectively. Results: Total leukocyte count (TLC) in blood sample of berberine treated group (9990+-1346 mm3) and dexamethasone treated group (9054+-1432 mm3) was significantly low than OVA sensitized group (14261+-3151 mm3). TLC of broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) fluid in berberine treated group (384+-26 mm3) and dexamethasone treated group (306+-86) mm3 was significantly low than OVA sensitized group (598+-110 mm3). Eosinophil percentage in blood of berberine treated (21.50+-3.08) and dexamethasone treated (13.33+-5.65) groups were significantly low than OVA sensitized group (30.33+-6.74), while eosinophil percentage in BAL fluid was 26.00+-6.69 and 21.00+-7.46 in berberine treated and dexamethasone treated groups respectively with significant difference from OVA sensitized group value of 40.00+-7.79. Conclusion: Berberine and dexamethasone both had reduced TLC and eosinophil percentage in both blood and BAL fluid as compared to OVA sensitized group but berberine is less effective than dexamethasone.

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