Antigenicity and phototoxicity of water-soluble extract from Salacia reticulata (celastraceae)

The antigenicity and phototoxicity of water-soluble extract from Salacia re ticulata (SRE) were examined in guinea pigs. In a study of active systemic anaphylaxis reaction, neither the oral administration group (64 or 320 mg/k g, 5 times/week, 3 weeks) nor the subcutaneous administration group (64 mg/ kg, 1 time/week, 3 weeks) exhibited any anaphylactic reaction. Moreover, se nsitization with serum obtained from these animals did not induce passive c utaneous anaphylaxis reaction in normal animals. In a phototoxicity study, oral administration of SRE (320 mg/kg) induced neither erythema nor edema. These results suggest that SRE is not antigenic or phototoxic.