SALBUTAMOL

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways characterized by recurrent episodes of wheezing, coughing, breathlessness, and chest tightness. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of salbutamol, prednisolone, and montelukast on serum electrolyte, urea, and creatinine in asthma-induced female Sprague-Dawley rats. Methodology: Sixty-four (64) rats weighing 120-250 g were randomly assigned into eight groups (n = 8 per group): The negative control group (no asthma, untreated), positive control group (asthma-induced, untreated), and six treatment groups (groups 3-8) induced with asthma, receiving salbutamol (1 mg/kg), montelukast (10 mg/kg), prednisolone (3 mg/kg), Salbutamol/Prednisolone (1 mg/kg + 3 mg/kg), montelukast/prednisolone(10 mg/kg + 3mg/kg), Salbutamol/Montelukast (1 mg/kg + 10 mg/kg). Groups 2-8 were sensitized via intraperitoneal injections of 1 mg ovalbumin (OVA), emulsified in 20 mg aluminum hydroxide (in 0.9% saline) on days 1 and 7 of the third week. From day 21, sensitized rats were challenged by exposure to aerosolized 1% OVA solution for 15 minutes per session, twice weekly for 28 days. Treatment continued throughout the challenge period. At the end of the treatment period, animals were anesthetized, and blood was collected for biochemical analysis. All data were expressed as mean ± Standard Error of Mean (SEM) and analyzed with one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Tukey’s post hoc test, using Graphpad Prism 10.2.2 software. Results showed a statistically significant increase in serum urea and creatinine in the prednisolone/montelukast-treated group compared with negative control (p<0.05), whereas prednisolone alone significantly decreased serum creatinine and potassium levels (p<0.05). No significant changes in serum urea, creatinine, potassium, sodium or chloride were observed in the salbutamol, montelukast, and their combination groups compared with the negative control (p>0.05). Compared with the positive control, several treatments, including montelukast, prednisolone, salbutamol/montelukast, and prednisolone/montelukast, significantly decreased serum urea, while prednisolone/montelukast, also increased sodium and decreased chloride levels (p<0.05). These findings suggest that prednisolone, particularly in combination with montelukast, can modulate renal function and eletrolyte balance, whereas salbutamol and montelukast alone exert minimal effects on kidney parameters.

Salbutamol, montelukast, and prednisolone are widely used in the management of respiratory disorders. Despite their therapeutic benefits, their effects on pulmonary oxidative stress and antioxidant defenses, particularly when used in combination, remain unclear. This study evaluated the influence of these agents on oxidative stress markers and total protein concentration in lung tissue. Experimental animals were divided into five groups (n = 8 group): negative control, positive control, salbutamol, montelukast, prednisolone, salbutamol/prednisolone, salbutamol/montelukast, and prednisolone/montelukast. Lung tissue homogenates were analyzed for total protein concentration, antioxidant enzyme activities superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx)—and oxidative stress markers, including hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and nitric oxide (NO). Data were expressed as mean ± SEM and analyzed using one-way ANOVA with significance set at p < 0.05. Total protein concentration significantly increased only in the salbutamol/prednisolone-treated group compared with the negative control (p < 0.05). This group also exhibited significant decreases in SOD, CAT, and GPx activities relative to both negative and positive controls (p < 0.05), indicating reduced antioxidant capacity. In contrast, salbutamol/montelukast and prednisolone/montelukast treatments did not alter protein concentration or most antioxidant enzymes compared with the negative control, although CAT and GPx were decreased relative to the positive control (p < 0.05). Hydrogen peroxide levels were significantly elevated in salbutamol/montelukast and prednisolone/montelukast groups compared with the negative
control (p < 0.05), while NO levels did not differ significantly among groups. However, compared with the positive control, NO concentration increased in salbutamol/prednisolone and salbutamol/montelukast groups (p < 0.05). In conclusion, combination therapy with salbutamol and prednisolone reduces pulmonary antioxidant enzyme activity while increasing total protein, suggesting mild oxidative stress. Montelukast-containing combinations primarily modulate hydrogen peroxide without major effects on protein content or overall antioxidant capacity. These findings indicate that drug combinations exert differential effects on lung oxidative homeostasis, highlighting the need for careful evaluation of pulmonary redox status during combination therapy.