Abstract
Pharmacological studies were made on crude platycodin, a saponin fraction extracted from the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum A. DC., in addition to previous studies which revealed its central depressant effect, mainly sedative and analgesic-antipyretic. Results obtained by the present study were as follows : Crude platycodin significantly inhibited the rat paw edema induced by carrageenin and by acetic acid, and also inhibited significantly the formation of granulation tissue and the arthritis induced by Freund's complete adjuvant in rats. Antianaphylactic effect in mice, as measured by the rectal temperature, was shown following its prolonged administration after the sensitization, whereas the effect was not observed by its single pretreatment just before the challenge. It also decreased significantly the vascular permeability of Pontamine Sky Blue into the mouse peritoneal cavity in anaphylaxis. Its antagonistic effect against contraction induced by histamine and by acetylcholine was identified in the guinea-pig ileum preparation, but no antagonistic effect was observed against serotonin and bradykinin in the rat stomach fundus and uterus, respectively. The time to death in histamine shock of guinea pigs was prolonged by the administration of crude platycodin. It is, therefore, concluded that crude platycodin shows antihistaminic and anticholinergic effects, but not antiserotonin or antibradykinin effect, and has a potent anti-inflammatory effect. A discussion on the possible mechanism of its anti-edematous effect was added.
