Anti-histamine effect of Rubia tibetica, used to treat anaphylaxis caused by tick bites in the Pamir Mountains, Afghanistan.
BACKGROUND
The roots of Rubia tibetica are chewed as an antidote to anaphylaxis caused by bites of the tick Ornithodoros lahorensis by the Wakhi people in Afghanistan.


OBJECTIVE
To test whether Rubia tibetica possess anti-histamine effect.


METHODS
Water and ethanol extracts of roots of Rubia tibetica were tested for anti-histamine effect on the H1-receptor in the guinea pig ileum assay. Fixed concentrations of plant extract with increasing concentrations of histamine were examined. Mepyramine was used as control.


CONCLUSIONS
The ethanol extract of Rubia tibetica showed dose-dependent anti-histamine effect, whereas the water extract had little activity. The chewing of Rubia tibetica roots may alleviate the fatal swelling of the tongue during anaphylaxis.
Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universitetsparken 2, 2100 Copenhagen, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Anne S
AS
Jeppesen
Uffe
U
Kristiansen
Jens
J
Soelberg
Anna K
AK
Jäger
D000346:Afghanistan; D000707:Anaphylaxis; D000818:Animals; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000188:drug therapy; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006632:Histamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007082:Ileum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots; D011969:Receptors, Histamine H1 / Q000502:physiology; D045470:Rubia; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D013987:Ticks; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D006633:Histamine Antagonists; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011969:Receptors, Histamine H1; D012997:Solvents; D014867:Water; D000431:Ethanol; D006632:Histamine