title: Antiallergic effect of gami-hyunggyeyeongyotang on ovalbumin-induced allergic rhinitis in mouse and human mast cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gami-hyunggyeyeongyotang (GMHGYGT) is a polyherbal medicine derived from an oriental prescription traditionally used in the treatment of allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis (AR). This study aimed to evaluate the effects of GMHGYGT on ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization/challenge-induced AR in BALB/C mice, through examination of allergic inflammatory response regulation, as well as examination of human mast cells (HMC-1).
  
  
  METHODS
  Nasal symptoms were evaluated in the OVA-induced allergic rhinitis mouse model, and total immunoglobulin (Ig)E and OVA-specific IgE levels in serum were investigated. Eosinophil infiltration and thickness of the nasal mucosa, and levels of interleukin (IL)-1β and caspase-1 were also measured by immunohistochemistry. Additionally, the effect of GMHGYGT on the phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate plus calcium ionophore A23187-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, C-Jun N-terminal kinase and p38 in HMC-1 cells was investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GMHGYGT was demonstrated to have antiallergic effects on the nasal symptoms of the OVA-induced mouse model, decreasing serum levels of OVA-specific IgE and levels of the cytokines IL-5, IL-6, IL-1β, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, and macrophage inflammatory protein-2. GMHGYGT reduced the number of eosinophils in the nasal mucosa and thickness of the nasal septum, and inhibited the expression of IL-1β and caspase-1. Moreover, it inhibited the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase and C-Jun N-terminal kinase, as well as the activation of nuclear factor-κB on protein level in HMC-1 cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that GMHGYGT has therapeutic potential for the treatment of allergic rhinitis.
authors: College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: Yong-Seok
authors: YS
authors: Im
authors: College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: Bina
authors: B
authors: Lee
authors: College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: Eun-Young
authors: EY
authors: Kim
authors: College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: Ju-Hee
authors: JH
authors: Min
authors: College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: Dea-Uk
authors: DU
authors: Song
authors: College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: Jeong-Min
authors: JM
authors: Lim
authors: College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: Ji Whan
authors: JW
authors: Eom
authors: College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: Hyun Joo
authors: HJ
authors: Cho
authors: College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: Youngjoo
authors: Y
authors: Sohn
authors: College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea. Electronic address: jhs@khu.ac.kr.
authors: Hyuk-Sang
authors: HS
authors: Jung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology*; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D016328:NF-kappa B; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D010047:Ovalbumin
keywords: Gami-hyunggyeyeongyotang; allergic rhinitis; cytokines; immunoglobulin E; nasal symptom; nuclear factor κB