The Chinese herbal medicine formula FAHF-2 completely blocks anaphylactic reactions in a murine model of peanut allergy

• Published in: Journal of allergy and clinical immunology 2005, Vol.115 (1), p.171-178
• Main Authors: Srivastava, Kamal D., Kattan, Jacob D., Zou, Zhong Mei, Li, Jing Hua, Zhang, Libang, Wallenstein, Sylvan, Goldfarb, Joseph, Sampson, Hugh A., Li, Xiu-Min
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Allergies; Anaphylaxis - blood; Anaphylaxis - prevention & control; Animals; Arachis - immunology; Biological and medical sciences; Body Temperature - drug effects; Chinese herbal medicine formula; Chinese medicine; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Drugs, Chinese Herbal - administration & dosage; Drugs, Chinese Herbal - therapeutic use; Female; Food allergies; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Histamine Release - drug effects; Immunoglobulin E - biosynthesis; Immunoglobulin E - blood; Immunologic Memory; Immunopathology; Interferon-gamma - analysis; Interleukins - analysis; Medical research; Medical sciences; Mice; Mice, Inbred C3H; Peanut anaphylaxis; Peanut Hypersensitivity - blood; Peanut Hypersensitivity - prevention & control; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts - administration & dosage; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; Spleen - immunology; T H2 cytokine modulation; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0091-6749; 1097-6825
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2004.10.003

Peanut allergy is potentially life threatening. There is no curative therapy for this disorder. We previously found that an herbal formula, food allergy herbal formula (FAHF)–1, blocked peanut-induced anaphylaxis in a murine model when challenged immediately posttherapy. To test whether FAHF-2, an improved herbal formula, from which 2 herbs, Zhi Fu Zi (Radix Lateralis Aconiti Carmichaeli Praeparata) and Xi Xin (Herba Asari), were eliminated, is equally effective to FAHF-1, and if so, whether protection persists after therapy is discontinued. Mice allergic to peanut treated with FAHF-2 for 7 weeks were challenged 1, 3, or 5 weeks posttherapy. Anaphylactic scores, core body temperatures, vascular leakage, and plasma histamine levels after peanut challenge were determined. Serum peanut-specific antibody levels and splenocyte cytokine profiles were also measured. After challenges, all sham-treated mice developed severe anaphylactic signs, significant decrease in rectal temperatures, significantly increased plasma histamine levels, and marked vascular leakage. In contrast, no sign of anaphylactic reactions, decrease in rectal temperatures, or elevation of plasma histamine levels was observed in FAHF-2–treated mice in 5 separate experiments. IgE levels were significantly reduced by FAHF-2 treatment and remained significantly lower as long as 5 weeks posttherapy. Splenocytes from FAHF-2–treated mice showed significantly reduced IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13, and enhanced IFN-γ production to recall peanut stimulation in vitro. FAHF-2 treatment completely eliminated anaphylaxis in mice allergic to peanut challenged as long as 5 weeks posttherapy. This result was associated with downregulation of T H2 responses. FAHF-2 may be a potentially effective and safe therapy for peanut allergy.