INHIBITION OF IMMEDIATE-TYPE ALLERGIC REACTIONS BY THE AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF KUM-HWANG-SAN

We studied the effect of aqueous extract of Kum-Hwang-San (KHS) on mas t cell-mediated immediate type allergic reactions. KHS (1-100 mu g/sit e) inhibited concentration-dependently mast cell-dependent ear swellin g response induced by compound 48/80 (200 mu g/site) in mice by bath t opical and intradermal application. KHS (0.1-100 mu g/site) inhibited concentration-dependently passive cutaneous anaphylaxis induced by ant i-dinitrophenyl (DNP) IgE in rats by both topical and intradermal appl ication. KHS also inhibited concentration-dependently the histamine re lease from the rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMC) by compound 48/80 and anti-DNP IgE. Moreover, KHS had a significant inhibitory effect on ant i-DNP IgE-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) secretion fr om RPMC. These results indicate that KHS inhibits immediate type aller gic reactions by inhibition of histamine release and TNF-alpha secreti on from mast cells in vivo and in vitro. (C) 1998 International Societ y for Immunopharmacology. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.