Inhibitory effects of mast cell-mediated allergic reactions by cell cultured Siberian Ginseng

The crude drug "Siberian Ginseng (SG)" has long been used in empirical Orie ntal medicine for the nonspecific enhancement of resistance in humans and a nimals. In this study, we investigated the effect of cell cultured SG by or al administration in mast cell-mediated allergic reactions. SG dose-depende ntly inhibited compound 48/80-induced systemic allergy with doses of 10(-2) to 1 g/kg 1 h before oral administration. Of special note, SG inhibited sy stemic allergy with the dose of I g/kg by 25%. SG (1 g/kg) also inhibited p assive cutaneous allergic reaction by 51%. SG dose-dependently inhibited hi stamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells. When SG (0.01 mg/ml) was ad ded, the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleuk in-6 in antidinitrophenyl (DNP) IgE antibody-stimulated mast cells was inhi bited 39.5% and 23.3%, respectively. In addition, SG inhibited anti-DNP IgE antibody-stimulated TNF-alpha protein expression in mast cells. Our studie s provide evidence that SG may be beneficial in the treatment of various ty pes of allergic diseases.