Lithospermi radix extract inhibits histamine release and production of inflammatory cytokine in mast cells

• Published in: Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry biotechnology, and biochemistry, 2007-12, Vol.71 (12), p.2886-2892
• Main Authors: Kim, E.K.(Kyung Hee Univ., Seoul (Korea R.)), Kim, E.Y, Moon, P.D, Um, J.Y, Kim, H.M, Lee, H.S, Sohn, Y, Park, S.K, Jung, H.S, Sohn, N.W
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ALERGENOS; ALLERGENE; ALLERGENS; ANAPHYLACTIC REACTIONS; Anaphylaxis - prevention & control; Animals; Anti-Allergic Agents - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Cells, Cultured; CELULAS FIBROSAS; CITOQUINAS; CYTOKINE; CYTOKINES; Cytokines - biosynthesis; FITOTERAPIA; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; HISTAMINA; HISTAMINE; Histamine - biosynthesis; Histamine Release - drug effects; HMC-1 cell; I-kappa B Proteins - metabolism; IMMUNOBLOTTING; Immunoglobulin E - immunology; Lithospermi radix; Lithospermum - chemistry; LITHOSPERMUM ERYTHRORHIZON; MAST CELLS; Mast Cells - drug effects; Mast Cells - metabolism; MASTOCYTE; NF-kappa B - metabolism; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB); p-Methoxy-N-methylphenethylamine - pharmacology; passive cutaneous anaphylaxis; PHYTOTHERAPIE; PHYTOTHERAPY; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; REACCIONES ANAFILACTICAS; REACTION ANAPHYLACTIQUE
• ISSN: 0916-8451; 1347-6947
• DOI: 10.1271/bbb.70208

Lithospermi radix (LR, Borraginaceae, the root of Lithospermum erythrorhizon Siebold. et Zuccarinii) is used in herbal medicine to treat such conditions as eczema, skin burns and frostbite. This study investigates the effects of LR on the anti-allergy mechanism. LR inhibited the release of histamine from rat peritoneal mast cells by compound 48/80 in a dose-dependent manner. LR orally administered at 6.59 mg/100 g also inhibited the anti-DNP IgE-induced passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction. LR inhibited the PMA plus A23187-induced increase in IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-alpha expression in HMC-1 cells. In addition, LR also inhibited nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation and IkappaB-alpha degradation. These results show that LR had an inhibitory effect on the atopic allergic reaction. Furthermore, the in vivo and in vitro anti-allergic effect of LR suggests possible therapeutic applications of this agent for inflammatory allergic diseases.