title: Inhibition of histamine mediated responses by Mirabilis jalapa: confirming traditional claims made about antiallergic and antiasthmatic activity.
abstract: The roots of Mirabilis jalapa are used traditionally in allergic skin disorders and asthma. The effect of an ethanol:acetone (1:1) extract of the roots of M. jalapa was studied for antihistaminic activity using a guinea pig tracheal chain preparation and clonidine-induced mast cell granulation in mice. Its antiallergic activity was evaluated using milk-induced eosinophilia and albumin-induced paw oedema in mice. The extract (0.5 mL of 100 mg mL(-1)) inhibited histamine-induced guinea pig tracheal chain contractions non-competitively. The extract (100 or 200 mg kg(-1) i.p.) inhibited milk-induced eosinophilia, albumin-induced paw oedema and protected mast cells against clonidine-induced granulation. The study justified the folkloric use of M. jalapa in the treatment of allergic diseases and asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Botanical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maxia
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sanna
authors.forename: Balu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Salve
authors.forename: Ameya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kasture
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kasture
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015550:Cell Degranulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004487:Edema / Q000188:drug therapy; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000188:drug therapy; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D039282:Mirabilis / Q000737:chemistry*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry*; D014132:Trachea / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts