title: Effect of Ganoderma lucidum on pollen-induced biphasic nasal blockage in a guinea pig model of allergic rhinitis.
abstract: Ganoderma lucidum (GL), an oriental medical mushroom, has been used in Asia for the prevention and treatment of a variety of diseases. However, the effect of GL on allergic rhinitis has not been well defined. The current study describes the inhibitory effect of GL on the biphasic nasal blockage and nasal hyperresponsiveness induced by repeated antigen challenge in a guinea pig model of allergic rhinitis. Intranasally sensitized guinea pigs were repeatedly challenged by inhalation of Japanese cedar pollen once every week. Ganoderma lucidum was orally administered once daily for 8 weeks from the time before the first challenge. The treatment with GL dose-dependently inhibited the early and late phase nasal blockage at the fifth to ninth antigen challenges. Furthermore, nasal hyperresponsiveness to intranasally applied leukotriene D₄ on 2 days after the eighth antigen challenge was also inhibited by the treatment with GL. However, Cry j 1-specific IgE antibody production was not affected by the treatment. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the pollen-induced biphasic nasal blockage and nasal hyperresponsiveness were suppressed by the daily treatment with GL in the guinea pig model of allergic rhinitis. These results suggest that GL may be a useful therapeutic drug for treating patients with allergic rhinitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Kobe Pharmaceutical University, 4-19-1 Motoyamakita, Higashinada, Kobe 658-8558, Japan. mizutani@kobepharma-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Nobuaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mizutani
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nabe
authors.forename: Masaji
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimazu
authors.forename: Shin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoshino
authors.forename: Shigekatsu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kohno
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000818:Animals; D052179:Antigens, Plant / Q000276:immunology; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001688:Biological Products / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D032485:Cryptomeria / Q000737:chemistry; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D017998:Leukotriene D4 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D011058:Pollen / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D020940:Reishi / Q000737:chemistry*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D012912:Sneezing
chemical_list: D052179:Antigens, Plant; D001688:Biological Products; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D017998:Leukotriene D4