VOLATILE ANTIALLERGIC PRINCIPLES FROM A TRADITIONAL HERBAL PRESCRIPTION OF KAMPO MEDICINE

An aqueous extract of the traditional herbal prescription, Zyumi-Haido ku-San-Ka-Rengyo (ZSR), was examined for antiallergic activity. Its or al administration to rats significantly inhibited homologous passive c utaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) induced by ovalbumin. The bioassay-directed fractionation of the extract followed by GC/MS analysis revealed that beta-caryophyllene, a sesquiterpenoid component of the oil, was four times as active as the antiallergic drug tranilast against PCA induced in the ears of mice. beta-Caryophyllene proved to be more effective t han its structural isomer, alpha-humulene (alpha-caryophyllene), sugge sting that the peculiar bicyclic system with four- and nine-member rin gs is of importance in enhancing the antiallergic activity of the sesq uiterpene molecule.