Anti-allergic effect of tea-leaf saponin (TLS) from tea leaves (Camellia sinensis var. sinensis).
We investigated the anti-allergic effect of tea-leaf saponin (TLS), which was a mixture of saponins separated from the leaves of Camellia sinensis var. sinensis, in guinea pigs and rats. TLS (20-100 mg/kg) dose-dependently inhibited experimentally-induced asthma, and ID50 was 61.7 mg/kg. TLS (20-100 mg/kg) dose-dependently inhibited a 48 h homologous PCA (passive cutaneous anaphylaxis) reaction, and the inhibitory effect was similar to that of tranilast. TLS (1-100 microg/ml) also inhibited the release of antigen-induced leukotriene (LT) C4 from sensitized guinea pig lung samples in a dose-dependent fashion, but did not prevent histamine release. TLS (0.01-0.5 microg/ml) inhibited histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells induced by compound 48/80. At higher concentrations, TLS elicited histamine release. These findings suggest that TLS may be a useful protective agent against clinical allergy, and that the inhibitory effects of TLS on mediator release are in some way related to its inhibitory effect on experimentally-induced asthma and PCA reaction.
Akagi
M
M
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima Bunri University, Yamashiro-cho, Japan.
Fukuishi
N
N
Kan
T
T
Sagesaka
Y M
YM
Akagi
R
R
D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006636:Histamine Release / Q000187:drug effects; D017997:Leukotriene C4 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010323:Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011914:Rats, Inbred BN; D012503:Saponins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013662:Tea; D062367:ortho-Aminobenzoates / Q000494:pharmacology
D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D012503:Saponins; D013662:Tea; D062367:ortho-Aminobenzoates; D017997:Leukotriene C4; C012293:tranilast