title: Mast cell stabilizing effects of Sphaeranthus indicus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the effects of Sphaeranthus indicus on mast cell stabilizing activity to provide scientific basis for the clinical use of S. indicus.
  
  
  METHODS
  The protective effect of different extracts of whole plant of S. indicus against compound 48/80 and sheep serum induced mast cell degranulation was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ethanol extract of S. indicus at the doses of 150 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg and ethyl acetate extract at the dose of 100 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg showed slightly better protection of mast cell degranulation (77-86%) than the standard drug ketotifen (75%) in the sheep serum model. These extracts also showed better mast cell stabilizing activity (77-88%) than the standard drug (69%) when peritoneal mast cells are treated with compound 48/80.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that S. indicus has potent mast cell stabilizing effects thereby inhibiting mediator release from mast cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal 576 104, Karnataka, India. jessyjamesmathew@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: Jessy E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Mathew
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Srinivasan
authors.forename: Vachala
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dinakaran
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Joseph