Farnesol, a sesquiterpene alcohol in essential oils, ameliorates serum allergic antibody titres and lipid profiles in ovalbumin-challenged mice

BackgroundFarnesol, a natural sesquiterpene alcohol in essential oils, was found to have potential for alleviating massive inflammation, oxidative stress and lung injury. However, effects of farnesol supplementation on allergic asthma remain unclear.ObjectivesTo clarify the puzzle, this work investigates the effects of farnesol on allergic asthma using an ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitised and challenged mouse model.MethodsFarnesol was administered to OVA-sensitised and challenged mice for 5 weeks. Three farnesol doses, namely 5, 25 and 100 mg farnesol/kg BW/day, non-sensitised control, dietary control, and positive control (dexamethasone 3 mg/kg BW by gavage) were included. Sera and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids from the experimental mice were collected to measure farnesol concentrations, serum lipid profiles, antibody titres, differential cell counts or Th1/Th2 cytokines levels.ResultsThe results showed that farnesol supplementation increased serum farnesol concentration dose-dependently, significantly increased (P < 0.05) OVA-specific IgG2a/IgE antibody titre ratios, but decreased total IgE levels. Farnesol supplementation markedly reversed the aberrated LDL-c/HDL-c and HDL-c/TC ratios in the sera of asthmatic mice, suggesting that farnesol supplementation might ameliorate serum lipid profiles in the OVA-sensitised and challenged mice.ConclusionOur results evidenced that farnesol supplementation might improve serum allergic antibody titres and lipid profiles in asthmatic mice.