title: Traditional Chinese medicine for atopic eczema: PentaHerbs formula suppresses inflammatory mediators release from mast cells.
abstract: 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.
authors: Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China.
authors: Ben Chung Lap
authors: BC
authors: Chan
authors: Kam Lun Ellis
authors: KL
authors: Hon
authors: Ping Chung
authors: PC
authors: Leung
authors: Sze Wing
authors: SW
authors: Sam
authors: Kwok Pui
authors: KP
authors: Fung
authors: Mavis Yuk Ha
authors: MY
authors: Lee
authors: Hang Yung Alaster
authors: HY
authors: Lau
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D006632:Histamine; D015230:Prostaglandin D2