Abstract
The preventive effects of Sasa senanensis Rehder extract by alkaline hydrolysis on degranulation from rat peritoneal exudate cells (PECs) were examined.
Calcium-ionophore A23187 as the degranulation stimulus in a 1 mM Ca2+ buffer solution showed a dose-dependent increase in histamine release from rat PECs, while there was no significant histamine release in the Ca2+ free buffer solution. Preincubation with Fe-SE (Fe substituted for the Mg of chlorophyll) or Cu-SE (Cu substituted for the Mg of chlorophyll) for 5 min suppressed calcium-ionophore A23187-induced histamine release in a concentrationdependent manner. A23187 evoked a quick increase in cytoplasmic free calcium ( [Ca2+] i) levels in the presence of extracellular calcium. Preincubation with each SE showed the suppressive effect on calcium influx increases induced by A23187. Sodium cromoglycate as the prototypical antiallergic compound prevented the histamine release and the increase in [Ca2+] i levels induced by A23187.
These results indicate that the preventive effects of both SE extracts against degranulation from rat PECs are due to the inhibition of the [Ca2+] i level increase, suggesting they may be useful as effective anti-allergic agents.
