Metabolomic profiling of Cordia africana Lam. and its anti-asthmatic effect in an ovalbumin-induced allergic airway inflammation model.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Cordia africana Lam. (C. africana) (Boraginaceae) is traditionally used in Africa to manage inflammatory disorders.

AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to investigate the metabolome of C. africana cultivated in Sudan and evaluate its potential against allergic severe asthma - a chronic, and complex inflammatory airway condition.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Phytoconstituents of C. africana leaf (CL), stem bark (CSB), and root bark (CRB) were identified by liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS/MS). The antiallergic effect of CL (200 and 400 mg/kg b.wt.) was investigated in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced airway inflammation and allergic asthma rat model, using dexamethasone (0.5 mg/kg b.wt.) as a standard.

RESULTS

A total of 65 metabolites were identified, including carbohydrates, organic and fatty acids, phenolic acids, coumarins, and flavonoids. Hierarchical clustering heatmap analysis revealed significant metabolite discrepancies between the organs, with CL treatment exhibiting the highest number of unique metabolites (24 compounds). CL extract significantly reduced sneezing frequency, eosinophils count, plasma immunoglobulin E, histamine, complements C3 and C4, lung vascular endothelial growth factor, phosphorylated Akt, interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-23, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), malondialdehyde, while significantly increasing glutathione, and superoxide dismutase. Furthermore, lung NLRP3 and AhR gene expression were markedly reduced. These biochemical findings, suggesting anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, were further supported by histological analysis after proper clinical trials.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that C. africana could serve as a promising source of bioactive metabolites with anti-asthmatic potential. However, further pre-clinical and clinical studies are required to validate its efficacy and safety for developing novel therapies.