title: Antiallergic and antihistaminic effect of two extracts of Capparis spinosa L. flowering buds.
abstract: The antiallergic properties of two lyophilized extracts obtained from Capparis spinosa L. flowering buds (capers) by methanol extraction, carried out at room temperature (CAP-C) or with heating at 60 degrees C (CAP-H), were investigated. The protective effects of CAP-H and CAP-C, orally administered (14.28 mg[sol ]kg), were evaluated against Oleaceae antigen challenge-induced and histamine-induced bronchospasm in anaesthetized guinea-pigs. Furthermore, the histamine skin prick test was performed on humans, applying a gel formulation containing 2% CAP-C (the only extract able to protect against histamine-induced bronchospasm) on the skin for 1 h before histamine application and monitoring the erythema by reflectance spectrophotometry. The CAP-H showed a good protective effect against the bronchospasm induced by antigen challenge in sensitized guinea-pigs; conversely, a significant decrease in the responsiveness to histamine was seen only in CAP-C pretreated animals. Finally, the CAP-C gel formulation possessed a marked inhibitory effect (46.07%) against histamine-induced skin erythema. These two caper extracts displayed marked antiallergic effectiveness; however, the protective effect of CAP-H was very likely due to an indirect mechanism (for example, inhibition of mediator release from mast cells or production of arachidonic acid metabolites); conversely, CAP-C is endowed with direct antihistaminic properties. The different mechanisms of action of CAP-H and CAP-C may be related to a difference in the extraction procedure and, thus, in their qualitative[sol ]quantitative chemical profile.
authors.affiliation: Department Farmaco-Biologico, School of Pharmacy, University of Messina, Contrada Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy. trombett@pharma.unime.it
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Trombetta
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Occhiuto
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Perri
authors.forename: Carmelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Puglia
authors.forename: Natale A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Santagati
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Pasquale
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saija
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bonina
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001986:Bronchial Spasm / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D031484:Capparis; D004890:Erythema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D035263:Flowering Tops; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006632:Histamine; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D010936:Plant Extracts; D006632:Histamine