Effect of orally administered Hochu-ekki-to, a Japanese herbal medicine, on contact hypersensitivity caused by repeated application of antigen.
The effects of oral administration of Hochu-ekki-to (HET; bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang in Chinese), a traditional Japanese and Chinese herbal medicine, on chronic contact hypersensitivity were investigated. HET suppressed ear swelling due to chronic contact hypersensitivity caused by repeated application of 2,4,6-trinitro-1-chlorobenzene (TNCB). HET significantly suppressed not only increases in hapten-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) and IgG1 titer due to repeated application of TNCB, but also total IgE and IgG1 concentration in the serum. Interleukin 4 (IL-4) level in inflamed ear tissue was significantly increased by repeated application of TNCB, and this increase in IL-4 level in the ear was significantly suppressed by oral administration of HET. Interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), IL-2, IL-5, IL-10 and IL-12 levels are not changed as much as IL4 by TNCB and HET did not alter these cytokines as much as IL-4. These results suggest that oral administration of HET suppresses chronic contact hypersensitivity, and it can be assumed that the suppression of serum Ig E and Ig G1 and IL-4 in inflamed ear.
Oriental Medicine Research Center of the Kitasato Institute, Tokyo, Japan.
Tsutomu
T
Nakada
Kenji
K
Watanabe
Tsukasa
T
Matsumoto
Kazuki
K
Santa
Kazuo
K
Triizuka
Toshihiko
T
Hanawa
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000633:toxicity; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004423:Ear / Q000503:physiopathology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D010853:Picryl Chloride / Q000633:toxicity*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010946:Plants, Medicinal
D000941:Antigens; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010936:Plant Extracts; C402943:bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang; D010853:Picryl Chloride