Action of Sosiho-Tang on systemic and local anaphylaxis by anal administration

The herbal formulation Soshiho-Tang (SS-Tang) has been used against allergi c disease for generations, and still occupies an important place in traditi onal medicine in Korea. Previously, we reported that SS-Tang potently inhib ited mast cell- mediated anaphylaxis when orally administered. In this stud y, we investigated the effect of SS-Tang by anal administration in anaphyla xis responses. SS-Tang dose;dependently inhibited compound 48/80-induced sy stemic anaphylaxis with doses of 10(-4) to 1 g/kg 1 h before anally adminis tered. Of special note, SS-Tang inhibited systemic anaphylaxis completely w ith a dose of 1 g/kg SS-Tang reduced plasma histamine levels induced by com pound 48/80 significantly. However, the mortality was 100% when S-Tang was administered after compound 48/80 treatment. SS-Tang (10(-1) g/kg) also inh ibited passive cutaneous anaphylaxis activated by anti-dinitrophenyl IgE an tibody by 30.9%. These results provide evidence that anal therapy of SS-Tan g may be beneficial in the treatment of systemic and local anaphylaxis.