title: Effects of silybin on histamine release from human basophil leucocytes.
abstract: 1. Effects of a naturally occurring flavonoid, silybin, on histamine release from human basophils were examined, in order to assess the potential utility in the treatment of allergic disorders. 2. The f-met peptide and anti-IgE-induced histamine release was significantly (P less than 0.05) inhibited in a concentration-dependent fashion. Conversely, no significant (P greater than 0.05) effect on calcium ionophore A23187-induced histamine secretion was documented. The inhibitory activity was significantly (P less than 0.05) reversed by elevating extracellular calcium concentrations. 3. The anti-allergic properties of silybin can be reasonably ascribed to a membrane-stabilizing activity, possibly related to an interference in calcium influx. These results indicate that an in vivo evaluation of the anti-allergic activity of silybin would be worthwhile.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001491:Basophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000001:Calcimycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006636:Histamine Release / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D012838:Silymarin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; D012838:Silymarin; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D000001:Calcimycin; D002118:Calcium