title: Inhibitory effects of Acorus calamus extracts on mast cell-dependent anaphylactic reactions using mast cell and mouse model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acorus calamus Linn. (Araceae) is a traditional herbal plant used for centuries to treat various allergic symptoms including asthma and bronchitis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study was focused to provide a pharmacological basis for the traditional use of Acorus calamus in allergic symptoms using the mast cell-dependent anaphylactic reactions in in vitro and in vivo models.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cell viabilities were measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Dinitrophenyl-human serum albumin (DNP-HSA) induced β-hexosaminidase and interleukin (IL)-4 productions in IgE-sensitized rat basophilic leukaemia (RBL-2H3) cells were measured by enzymatic assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) reaction mouse model was implemented for in vivo studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hot water (HW), butylene glycol (BG), hexane (HE) and steam distilled (SD) extracts of Acorus calamus showed different cytoxicity levels evaluated in RBL-2H3 cells. Sub-toxic doses of HW extract suppressed the β-hexosaminidase secretion and IL-4 production significantly and dose dependently in DNP-HSA induced IgE-sensitized RBL-2H3 cells compared to other extracts of Acorus calamus. Further, in vivo studies also revealed that the HW extract significantly inhibited the PCA reaction in mouse compared to the normal control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HW extract of Acorus calamus most effectively inhibited degranulation and IL-4 secretion in DNP-HSA-stimulated RBL-2H3 cells and also reduced the mast cell-mediated PCA reaction in mouse, providing a therapeutic evidence for its traditional use in ameliorating allergic reactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, College of Biomedical & Health Science, Research Institute of Inflammatory Diseases, Konkuk University, Chungju 380-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Young
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung-Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Wan-Jae
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Myong-Ki
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yong-Kook
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Dong-Woo
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Won-Kook
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Sang-Chul
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Sushruta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koppula
authors.forename: Tae-Bong
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Kwang-Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D029023:Acorus / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002072:Butylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D005591:Chemical Fractionation; D004140:Dinitrophenols / Q000276:immunology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006241:Haptens; D006586:Hexanes / Q000737:chemistry; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010323:Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis / Q000187:drug effects*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D051381:Rats; D027343:Rhizome; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000276:immunology; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D001619:beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D002072:Butylene Glycols; D004140:Dinitrophenols; D006241:Haptens; D006586:Hexanes; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012709:Serum Albumin; D012997:Solvents; C058064:dinitrophenyl-human serum albumin conjugate; D014867:Water; D015847:Interleukin-4; D001619:beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases