title: Antipruritic effects of the fruits of Chaenomeles sinensis.
abstract: A 35% EtOH extract of the fruits of Chaenomeles sinensis, long utilized as a folk medicine for cough, significantly inhibited the pruritogenic agent compound 48/80 (COM)-induced scratching behavior in mice. Antipruritic activity-guided fractionation and purification yielded active quercetin, apigenin, and catechin derivatives, which exhibited significant inhibitory effects on COM-induced scratching behavior. To the best of our knowledge, apigenin (5), apigenin 7-glucronide (6), and apigenin 4'-methoxy-7-glucronide (acacetin 7-glucronide) (7) were isolated from the fruits of C. sinensis for the first time. The active fraction and these compounds also inhibited serotonin-, platelet activating factor-, and prostaglandin E(2)-induced scratching behavior, but did not inhibit histamine-induced scratching behavior or locomotive behavior. This study also showed that the fruits of C. sinensis could be used to treat allergic itching sensation.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mukogawa Women's University, Nishinomiya, Japan.
authors.forename: Hisae
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oku
authors.forename: Yoshimi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Kyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishiguro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000982:Antipruritics / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005638:Fruit; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011537:Pruritus / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D027824:Rosaceae
chemical_list: D000982:Antipruritics; D010936:Plant Extracts