Inhibition of early and late phase allergic reactions by Euphorbia hirta L.
A 95% ethanol extract from whole aerial parts of Euphorbia hirta (EH A001) showed antihistaminic, antiinflammatory and immunosuppressive properties in various animal models. EH A001 inhibited rat peritoneal mast cell degranulation triggered by compound 48/80. It significantly inhibited dextran-induced rat paw edema. EH A001 prevented eosinophil accumulation and eosinophil peroxidase activity and reduced the protein content in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in a 'mild' model of asthma. Moreover, the CD4/CD8 ratio in peripheral blood was suppressed. EH A001 attenuated the release of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and augmented interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in ovalbumin-sensitized mouse splenocytes. The results were compared with the effects of known compounds, ketotifen, cetirizine and cyclophosphamide. These findings demonstrated that Euphorbia hirta possessed significant activity to prevent early and late phase allergic reactions.
Division of Pharmacology and Natural Products Chemistry, Regional Research Laboratory, Jammu-Tawi 180 001, India.
G D
GD
Singh
P
P
Kaiser
M S
MS
Youssouf
S
S
Singh
A
A
Khajuria
A
A
Koul
S
S
Bani
B K
BK
Kapahi
N K
NK
Satti
K A
KA
Suri
R K
RK
Johri
D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004487:Edema / Q000188:drug therapy; D047209:Eosinophil Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000502:physiology; D028481:Euphorbia; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000032:analysis; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010047:Ovalbumin; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology
D016207:Cytokines; D006633:Histamine Antagonists; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010047:Ovalbumin; D047209:Eosinophil Peroxidase