ANTIALLERGIC EFFECT OF TEA-LEAF SAPONIN (TLS) FROM TEA LEAVES (CAMELLIA-SINENSIS VAR SINENSIS)

We investigated the anti-allergic effect of tea-leaf saponin (TLS), wh ich was a mixture of saponins separated from the leaves of Camellia si nensis var, sinensis, in guinea pigs and rats, TLS (20-100 mg/kg) dose -dependently inhibited experimentally-induced asthma, and ID50 was 61. 7 mg/kg, TLS (20-100 mg/kg) dose-dependently inhibited a 48h homologou s PCA (passive cutaneous anaphylaxis) reaction, and the inhibitory eff ect was similar to that of tranilast. TLS (1-100g mu g/ml) also inhibi ted the release of antigen-induced leukotriene (LT) C-4 from sensitize d guinea pig lung samples in a dose-dependent fashion, but did not pre vent histamine release, TLS (0.01-0.5 pgiml) inhibited histamine relea se from rat peritoneal mast cells induced by compound 48/80, At higher concentrations, TLS elicited histamine release, These findings sugges t that TLS may be a useful protective agent against clinical allergy, and that the inhibitory effects of TLS on mediator release are in some may related to its inhibitory effect on experimentally-induced asthma and PCA reaction.