title: Amaranthus spinosus Linn. inhibits mast cell-mediated anaphylactic reactions.
abstract: The current study characterizes the mechanism by which the Amaranthus spinosus (Amaranthaceae) decreases mast cell-mediated anaphylactic reactions. Anaphylaxis is a typical hypersensitivity Type I reaction, sharing common mechanisms with asthma in its early and late phases. Mast cells are key as effector cells in hypersensitivity Type I reactions. A. spinosus has been traditionally used in the treatment of allergic bronchitis and asthma, but its role in mast cell-mediated anaphylactic reactions has not fully been investigated. This report investigated the potential effects of the ethyl acetate fraction of A. spinosus leaves (EAFAS) against a compound 48/80 (potent secretagogue)-induced systemic anaphylactic shock paradigm in a mouse model. In addition, rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMC) were used in in vitro studies to investigate the effect of EAFAS on compound 48/80-induced peritoneal mast cell degranulation and histamine release. When administration by the oral route-1 h before compound 48/80 injection-EAFAS (at dose from 0.001-1 g/kg) completely inhibited the induced anaphylactic shock. EAFAS at concentrations ranging 0.25-1 mg/ml dose-dependently attenuated rates of mast cell degranulation and histamine release from RPMC that were evoked by compound 48/80. The results of the present investigation indicated that EAFAS stabilizes the mast cell lipid bilayer membrane, thereby preventing the perturbation of membrane and the release of histamine. As a result of these anti-degranulating and anti-histaminic effects, it can be suggested that EAFAS may have a potential use in the prophylaxis and management of anaphylactic reactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, RC Patel Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Shirpur, India. savitad_patil@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: Savita D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Patil
authors.forename: Milap R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Sachin R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Sanjay J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Surana
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000737:chemistry; D027721:Amaranthus / Q000737:chemistry; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000818:Animals; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015550:Cell Degranulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006636:Histamine Release / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors; D003189:p-Methoxy-N-methylphenethylamine
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D003189:p-Methoxy-N-methylphenethylamine; C007650:ethyl acetate