Anti-type I Allergic Mechanisms of Mao-bushi-saishin-to in Mice

Abstract

We investigated the anti−allergic effect of mao−bushi−saishin−to(MBS)on the type I allergy model in mice.When MBS was administered orally at a dose of 0.5 or 1.0g/kg, edema of the footpad, the amount of plasma IgE and the ratio of eosinophilic leukocytes in peritoneal exudate cells were all dose−relatedly suppressed.Moreover to investigate the anti−type I allergic mechanisms of MBS, enzyme−linked immunosorbent assay was performed to determine the interleukin(IL)−4, IL−5 and interferon(IFN)−gamma production from splenocytes that were stimulated by pokeweed mitogen for 48 h.In addition, we assayed IgE production from splenic B cells stimulated with the lipopolysaccharide and IL−4 for 7 days.MBS inhibited the IL−4 and IFN−gamma production, but IL−5 and IgE production were not affected.Thus possibly, the inhibition of IL−4 production may partially be involved in the expression of the anti−type I allergic effects of MBS.