Suppression of immunoglobulin E-mediated anaphylactic reaction by Alpinia oxyphylla in rats

We investigated the effect of Alpinia oxyphylla water extract (AOWE) on imm unoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated anaphylaxis activated by anti-dinitrophenyl (D NP) IgE antibody. AOWE dose-dependently suppressed passive cutaneous anaphy laxis (PCA) when intraperitoneally or orally administered. On the other han d, it showed weak suppressive activity when administred intravenously. AOWE dose-dependently suppressed anaphylactic histamine release from rat perito neal mast cells (RPMC) activated by anti-DNP IgE antibody. However, AOWE ha d a significant augmenting effect on anti-DNP IgE antibody-induced tumor ne crosis factor-alpha secretion from RPMC. These results indicated that AOWE may possess strong antianaphylactic action and also suggest that differenti al activity following administration routes may be caused by difference of bioavailability.