2004 Volume 21 Issue 3 Pages 147-153
Anti-allergic effects of 9 Kampo medicines containing Ephedrae Herba on dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB)-induced triphasic skin reaction were investigated. In the animal model, it was found that Kakkon-To, Sho-Sei-Ryu-To, Shimpi-To and Mao-Bushi-Saishin-To inhibited the ear swelling of IPR (immediate phase response), LPR (late phase response) and vLPR (very late phase response). Eppi-Ka-Jutsu-To, Dai-Sei-Ryu-To and Keishi-Syakuyaku-Chimo-To inhibited the swelling of IPR and LPR. Mao-To and Ma-Kyo-Kan-Seki-To showed the inhibitory effect on IPR only. The water extract from Ephedrae Herba inhibited the triphasic skin reaction, but the water extract from the mixture of Ephedra Herba and Armeniacae Semen did not.
These findings indicate that Kakkon-To, Sho-Sei-Ryu-To, Shimpi-To and Mao-Bushi-Saishin-To are useful for the inhibition of cutaneous inflammatory diseases, and that the inhibitory effect is partly attributable to Ephedra Herba. Also, it was suggested that Armeniacae Semen plays some important role on the occurrence of efficacy of Ephedra Herba.
