title: Anti-allergic activity of German chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) in mast cell mediated allergy model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chamomile is most popular used medicinal plant and extensively consumed as a tea or tisanes. Traditionally this plant was used for treatment of many ailments such as allergy disorders and inflammatory mediated diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the effects of anti-allergic activity of Matricaria recutita L. on mast cell mediated allergic models.
  
  
  METHODS
  The protective effect of methanol extract of Matricaria recutita against compound 48/80 induced anaphylaxis and pruritis models for acute phase of hypersensitivity reactions were carried out. The late phase hypersensitivity reactions by compound 48/80 induced mast cell degranulation and histamine release from blood along with serum nitric oxide (NO), rat peritoneal fluid nitric oxide (NO) and bronchoalveolar fluid nitric oxide (NO) levels were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The methanol extract of Matricaria recutita L. showed inhibitory effects on anaphylaxis induced by compound 48/80 and significant dose dependent anti-pruritis property was observed by inhibiting the mast cell degranulation. Mast cell membrane stabilization activity was also observed in compound 48/80 induced mast cell activation. Dose dependent reduction in the histamine release, along with decreased release of serum, rat peritoneal and BAL fluid nitric oxide (NO) levels were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that the methanol extract of Matricaria recutita showed potent anti-allergic activity by inhibition of histamine release from mast cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Hanagal Shri Kumareshwar College of Pharmacy, Bagalkot 587101, Karnataka, India. chandupharm@yahoo.com
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Chandrashekhar
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Halagali
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Nidavani
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Shalavadi
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Biradar
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Biswas
authors.forename: I S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Muchchandi
mesh_terms: D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000818:Animals; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D015550:Cell Degranulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006636:Histamine Release / Q000187:drug effects; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D031168:Matricaria / Q000737:chemistry; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011537:Pruritus / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D003189:p-Methoxy-N-methylphenethylamine
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D003189:p-Methoxy-N-methylphenethylamine; D000432:Methanol