Abstract
This study investigated the preventive effects of water extracts prepared from the leaves and stems of Salacia reticulata on type I allergy in mice. Oral administration of the S. reticulata extracts to mice at doses of 200 and/or 400 mg/kg body weight significantly inhibited mouse type I allergy. The increases in the levels of some cytokines, such as interleukin-4 and interleukin-10, and that of immunoglobulin E in the abdominal wall of mice with type I allergy were also suppressed by oral administration of these S. reticulata extracts. The possibly active components in the leaves were thought to be certain polyphenolic compounds, such as (-)-epicatechin, and that in the stems was thought to be mangiferin. The leaves and stems of S. reticulata would be a suitable foodstuff for prevention of type I allergy.
