Biomolecules & Therapeutics  2017;25(2):91-104

doi:10.4062/biomolther.2016.187

Therapeutic Potential of Medicinal Plants and Their Constituents on Lung Inflammatory Disorders.

Hyun Pyo KIM 1 ; Hyun LIM ; Yong Soo KWON

Affiliations

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Keywords

Medicinal plant; Lung inflammation; COPD; Constituent; Flavonoid

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

Acute bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) are essentially lung inflammatory disorders. Various plant extracts and their constituents showed therapeutic effects on several animal models of lung inflammation. These include coumarins, flavonoids, phenolics, iridoids, monoterpenes, diterpenes and triterpenoids. Some of them exerted inhibitory action mainly by inhibiting the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway and nuclear transcription factor-κB activation. Especially, many flavonoid derivatives distinctly showed effectiveness on lung inflammation. In this review, the experimental data for plant extracts and their constituents showing therapeutic effectiveness on animal models of lung inflammation are summarized.