Traditional Chinese medicine for atopic eczema: PentaHerbs formula suppresses inflammatory mediators release from mast cells.
BACKGROUND
PentaHerbs formula (PHF) containing Cortex Moutan, root bark of Paeonia suffruticosa Andr. (Ranunculaceae), Cortex Phellodendri, bark of Phellodendron chinensis Schneid. (Rutaceae), Flos Lonicerae, flower of Lonicera japonica Thunb. (Capri-foliaceae), Herba Menthae, aerial part of Mentha haplocalyx Briq. (Labiatae) and Rhizoma Atractylodis, rhizome of Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC. (Compositae) at the ratio of 2:2:2:1:2 was useful in the management of eczema.


OBJECTIVE
Since the mechanism of action of PHF is not known, we aimed to investigate the actions of PHF on mast cell activation.


METHODS
Effects of aqueous extracts of PHF and individual component herb on mediator release from rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMCs) and cytokine production from HMC-1 were investigated.


RESULTS
PHF, Cortex Moutan and Herba Menthae significantly attenuated histamine release and prostaglandin D(2) synthesis from RPMC activated by anti-IgE and compound 48/80 (p<0.05). While Flos Lonicerae and Rhizoma Atractylodis suppressed only mediator release from compound 48/80 activated RPMC, Cortex Phellodendri potentiated only anti-IgE induced mediator release (p<0.05). However, with the exception of Cortex Moutan, PHF and the other four component herbs failed to affect cytokine production in HMC-1.


CONCLUSIONS
Although individual herbs demonstrated different modulating effects on mast cells, inhibition of inflammatory mediator release from mast cells would contribute to the therapeutic efficacy of PHF.
Chan
Ben Chung Lap
BC
Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China.
Hon
Kam Lun Ellis
KL
Leung
Ping Chung
PC
Sam
Sze Wing
SW
Fung
Kwok Pui
KP
Lee
Mavis Yuk Ha
MY
Lau
Hang Yung Alaster
HY
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D016207:Cytokines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006632:Histamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy; D015230:Prostaglandin D2 / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D006632:Histamine; D015230:Prostaglandin D2