ABSTRACT

The common lung disease known as asthma is characterised by episodes of bronchoconstriction, tightening of the respiratory smooth muscle, and persistent inflammation of the respiratory tubes. As a cysteinyl-leukotriene receptor antagonist, montelukast is a monocarboxylic acid with aliphatic sulphide belonging to the quinolone family. It is used to treat and prevent asthma as well as other inflammatory conditions. Hydrocortisone, a glucocorticoid, is a cysteinyl-leukotriene receptor antagonist, just like montelukast. Salbutamol belongs to a class of drug known as Short acting beta 2 agonist is commonly used in treatment of asthma. An antioxidant is a molecule that is stable enough to give a free radical on the rampage an electron and neutralise it, lowering its potential for damage. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of montelukast, salbutamol and hydrocortisone on antioxidant level of the heart in asthma induced sprague-dawley rats. To achieve this, 25 female Sprague-dawley rats were used for this study, which were divided into 2 main groups (control and test groups). Control group is subdivided into: Group 1 control - not induced with asthma, Group 2 negative control - induced with asthma but not treated. While the test group is divided into: Group 3 (asthma induced and treated with salbutamol), Group 4 (asthma induced and treated montelukast), and Group 5 (asthma induced and treated with hydrocortisone).With 5 rats per group, asthma was induced by sensitizing the rats with ovalbumin (1mg) and Aluminum hydroxide (20mg) on day 0 and 7, challenged with ovalbumin (1% w/v dissolved in 0.9 saline) two times weekly for four weeks, with a Medal family nebulizer with aerosol density of 0.28ml/min. During the period of challenged the tested groups were being treated with montelukast 10mg/kg, hydrocortisone 5mg/kg and salbutamol 2mg/kg for 28 days. At the end of experiment, blood samples were collected and taken to hematology laboratory. It was shown that montelukast, hydrocortisone and salbutamol have effects on antioxidant levels of the heart when compared to control group of the experiment. In conclusion, montelukast, hydrocortisone and salbutamol show effects on antioxidant level of the heart that is beneficial in combating free radicals causing oxidative stress.