title: Inhibitory effect of methanol extract of Ganoderma lucidum on acute itch-associated responses in mice.
abstract: In this study, the antipruritic effect of the methanol extract of Ganoderma lucidum (MEGL) was studied in mice. Oral administration of MEGL (10-1000 mg/kg) produced a dose-dependent inhibition of scratching, an itch-related response, induced by intradermal 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) (100 nmol/site), alpha-methyl-5-HT (100 nmol/site), and proteinase-activated receptor-2 (PAR(2))-activating peptide SLIGRL-NH(2) (50 nmol/site). However, MEGL (100-1000 mg/kg) did not inhibit the scratching induced by histamine (100 nmol/site), substance P (100 nmol/site), and compound 48/80 (10 microg/site). These results raise the possibility that MEGL is effective against pruritus mediated by proteinases and 5-HT and that primary afferents expressing PAR(2) and 5-HT(2A) receptors are the sites of its action.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Pharmacology, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0914, Japan.
authors.forename: Qun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Tsugunobu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Andoh
authors.forename: Mitsuhiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Konno
authors.forename: Jung-Bum
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hattori
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kuraishi
mesh_terms: D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001688:Biological Products / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006632:Histamine; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009842:Oligopeptides; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011537:Pruritus / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D044464:Receptor, PAR-2; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D020940:Reishi; D012701:Serotonin; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000294:innervation; D013373:Substance P; D003189:p-Methoxy-N-methylphenethylamine
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; D009842:Oligopeptides; D044464:Receptor, PAR-2; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; C099570:seryl-leucyl-isoleucyl-glycyl-arginyl-leucine; D012701:Serotonin; D013373:Substance P; D003189:p-Methoxy-N-methylphenethylamine; D006632:Histamine