FURTHER PHARMACOLOGICAL STUDY ON SHO-SEIRYU-TO AS AN ANTIALLERGIC

Examination was made of the pharmacological characteristics of Sho-sei ryu-to, an antiallergic kampo medicine. Sho-seiryu-to suppressed hista mine release from rat peritoneal mast cells, but failed to inhibit the binding of [H-3]-mepyramine to histamine H-1 receptors in guineapig c erebral cortex and lung. Sho-seiryu-to had no effect on cutaneous reac tions induced by serotonin, platelet-activating factor (PAF), leukotri ene (LT) C-4 or LTD4. Ketotifen prolonged electrically induced convuls ions, while Sho-seiryu-to did not. Sho-seiryu-to did not affect saliva tion induced by pilocarpine. Sho-seiryu-to thus does not appear to inh ibit histamine H-1 receptors or information induced by serotonin, PAF, LTC4 and LTD4, but suppresses mast cell activity Sho-seiryu-to would thus have only a few side effects such as dry mouth and convulsions du e mainly to the blockage of the action of muscarinic in salivary gland s and histamine in the brain.