Effects of Sho-seiryu-to on experimental allergic rhinitis in guinea pigs

The effects of Sho-seiryu-to, an antiallergic Kampo medicine, on experiment al allergic rhinitis were investigated in actively sensitized guinea pigs. The number of sneezes and scratches by the animals after a topical antigen challenge was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with Sho-seiryu-to (1 000 mg/kg per os p.o.). the antigen-induced eosinophil infiltration in the nasal mucosa was significantly inhibited by Sho-seiryu-to (1000 mg/kg/p.o.) . Sho-seiryu-p.o. also reduced the increase in dye leakage to the nasal cav ity induced by the antigen challenge and the antigen-induced by leukotriene D-4. these results demonstrate that Sho-seiryu-to inhibits experimental al lergic rhinitis in guinea pigs, confirming that the agent may be beneficial for the treatment of allergic rhinitis. (C) 1999 Prous Science. All rights reserved.