title: Tanshinones isolated from the rhizome of Salvia miltiorrhiza inhibit passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The rhizome of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (SM, family Labiatae), which contains tanshinones as main constituents, has been used as a cardiovascular and anti-inflammatory agent in Chinese medicine.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to elucidate anti-allergic effects of the root of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (SM, family Labiatae) and its main constituents, tanshinones, against passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) reaction.
  
  
  METHODS
  PCA reaction was induced by IgE-antigen complex (IAC) in ICR mice. Protein expression of IL-4 and TNF-α in rat basophilic leukemia (RBL)-2H3 cells was performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and NF-κB and c-jun (AP-1) activation assayed by immunoblot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tanshinones inhibited the PCA reaction and reduced IL-4 and TNF-α production in mice as well as in IAC-stimulated RBL-2H3 cells. Tanshinones also inhibited NF-κB and AP-1 activation in RBL-2H3 cells stimulated with IAC. Among tested tanshinones, tanshinone I exhibited the most potent inhibition, followed by 15,16-dihydrotanshinone I, tanshinone IIA and cryptotanshinone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SM and tanshinones may ameliorate the PCA reaction by inhibiting the allergic cytokines IL-4 and TNF-α via NF-κB and AP-1 pathways.
authors: Department of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Dongdaemun-Ku, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors: Hien Trung
authors: HT
authors: Trinh
authors: Sun Ju
authors: SJ
authors: Chae
authors: Eun-Ha
authors: EH
authors: Joh
authors: Kun Ho
authors: KH
authors: Son
authors: Su Jin
authors: SJ
authors: Jeon
authors: Dong-Hyun
authors: DH
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: D045784:Abietanes; D000818:Animals; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001892:Camphanes; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D053723:Panax notoginseng; D010323:Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D051381:Rats; D027343:Rhizome / Q000737:chemistry; D027561:Salvia miltiorrhiza / Q000737:chemistry*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D045784:Abietanes; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D001892:Camphanes; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C000604051:danshen dripping pill; C021751:tanshinone; D015847:Interleukin-4