Effects of chelidonic acid, a secondary plant metabolite, on mast cell degranulation and adaptive immunity in rats.
The present study evaluated the immunomodulatory effects of chelidonic acid, a secondary plant metabolite, with therapeutic potential in allergic disorders, in experimental animals. In mast cell degranulation studies, ovalbumin immunized and challenged rats, chelidonic acid (1, 3 and 10mg/kg, i.p.) dose relatedly prevented ovalbumin challenge induced mast cell degranulation by differing degrees when compared with vehicle treated group, and these effects were comparable with prednisolone (10mg/kg). A reduction in post-challenge mortality was also observed in all treated groups. Further, there were reductions in the blood eosinophil counts and serum IgE levels after chelidonic acid treatment. Chelidonic acid also inhibited histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMC) in vitro, in a dose related manner. In tests for adaptive immunity, in rats immunized with sheep RBC, chelidonic acid differentially suppressed the (a) plaque forming cell (PFC) count in rat splenic cells, (b) anti-SRBC antibody titre and serum IgG levels and (c) increases in foot pad thickness in the DTH assay - all of which were comparable with prednisolone. These experimental results are discussed in light of the possible therapeutic potential of chelidonic acid in allergic disorders.
Department of Pharmacology, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi 110 007, India.
Dhirendra Kumar
DK
Singh
Department of Pharmacology, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi 110 007, India.
Kavita
K
Gulati
Department of Pharmacology, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi 110 007, India. Electronic address: arunabha14@yahoo.co.in.
Arunabha
A
Ray
D056704:Adaptive Immunity / Q000187:drug effects; D000485:Allergens; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000517:prevention & control; D000818:Animals; D015550:Cell Degranulation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D006636:Histamine Release / Q000187:drug effects; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D010047:Ovalbumin; D011714:Pyrans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012756:Sheep; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects
D000485:Allergens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D011714:Pyrans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D010047:Ovalbumin; C046884:chelidonic acid
Allergic disorders; Cell mediated immunity; Chelidonic acid; Humoral immunity; Mast cell degranulation