Figure 1.

Experimental protocol. Rats were immunized with intraperitoneal injection of a suspension containing 40 mg ovalbumin (OVA) and 2 mg aluminium hydroxide. 15 days after the immunization, rats were challenged by exposure to an aerosol of 1% OVA in PBS for 20 minutes once daily for 8 consecutive days (days 15 to 22). Three groups were treated for 22 days after sensitization, with saline (controls), RN1, and RN2 (RN orally at 0.25 g/kg or 0.5 g/kg per day). DXM group was treated with dexamethasone 10 mg/kg on days 20, 21, and 22.