title: Anti-allergic and anti-anaphylactic activity of picroliv--a standardised iridoid glycoside fraction of Picrorhiza kurroa.
abstract: Picroliv, a standardised iridoid glycoside fraction from the root and rhizome of Picrorhiza kurroa at a dose of 25 mg kg-1 p.o. inhibited passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in mice (82%) and rats (50-85%) and protected mast cells from degranulation (60-80%) in a concentration-dependent manner. Its effect was also studied in sensitised guinea pig ileum preparation in vitro (Schultz-Dale study) and in normal guinea pigs in vivo (Konzett-Rossler, in preparation). There was inhibition of the Schultz-Dale response in sensitised guinea pig ileum, but the bronchospasm induced by histamine could not be antagonised or prevented by Picroliv, indicating the absence of a direct post-synaptic histamine receptor blocking activity.
authors.affiliation: ICMR Center for Advanced Pharmacological Research on Traditional Remedies, Division of Pharmacology, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Baruah
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nath
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Patnaik
authors.forename: B N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Dhawan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001986:Bronchial Spasm / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002934:Cinnamates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006027:Glycosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D007082:Ileum / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014641:Vanillic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*