title: Inhibition of itch-scratch response by fruits of Cnidium monnieri in mice.
abstract: We previously screened the anti-itching activities of 33 herbal medicines in substance P (SP)-induced itching model mice. One of the most potent antipruritogenic extracts, the methanol extract of fruits of Cnidium monnieri (Cnidii Fructus) was studied further. The chloroform-soluble fraction of the methanol extract markedly inhibited SP-induced scratching. Among 10 subfractions of the chloroform-soluble fraction, the CS-3 fraction had the most potent inhibitory effect on scratching. Each of 3 subfractions of CS-3 showed significant anti-scratching activities. However, inhibitory potencies were not different among the three and weaker than that of CS-3 itself at a same dose. These 3 subfractions of CS-3 mainly contained xanthotoxin, isopimpinellin, bergapten, imperatorin and osthol. Single administration of osthol did not inhibit SP-induced scratching, and imperatorin very weakly subsided scratching. These results suggest that the strong antipruritic action was focused on the CS-3 fraction of the C. monnieri methanol extract, and it might result from the combined effects of these coumarin derivatives, or by undetermined minor compounds.
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Ethnomedicines, Institute of Natural Medicine, Sugitani, Toyama, Japan.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Basnet
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yasuda
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kumagai
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tohda
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nojima
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kuraishi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Komatsu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000982:Antipruritics / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019661:Apiaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002725:Chloroform; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D000432:Methanol; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011537:Pruritus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012018:Reflex / Q000187:drug effects; D012997:Solvents
chemical_list: D000982:Antipruritics; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D002725:Chloroform; D000432:Methanol