The anti-allergic effects of a 70% ethanol extract from Selaginella tamariscina herb (EST) were evaluated in this study. EST given at the doses of 500 and 1000mg/kg can inhibitmouse systemic anaphylactic shock induced by compound 48/80 in a dose-dependent manner.It can also dose-dependently block rat homologous passive cutaneous anaphylaxis and skinreactions caused by exogenous histamine and serotonin with a significant difference observedat the dose of 1000mg/kg. In addition, EST can reduce histamine release from rat peritonealmast cells triggered by compound 48/80 and an antigen in vitro. When incubated with ratmast cells, the extract (200μg/ml) can significantly elevate the intracellular cAMP levels.The finding suggests that EST inhibits mast cell-dependent, immediate allergic reactions. Itseffects appear to be mediated by reducing the release of vasoactive amines such as histaminefrom mast cells via stabilizing the cell membrane and weakening the inflammatory action ofthese amines. Based on these results, Selaginella tamariscina and one of its active componentsflavonoids may be useful as potential remedies for allergic rhinitis and other allergy-relateddiseases.

This study was carried out to determine the effects of the 70% ethanolic extract from the anomalous fruitsof Gleditsia sinensis LAM. (AFGS) on experimental allergic reactions and inflammation. AFGS (200, 500, 1000mg/kg, p.o.) dose-dependently inhibited the systemic anaphylactic shock induced by compound 48/80 in mice andcutaneous reactions induced by histamine or serotonin in rats. At doses of 500 and 1000 mg/kg, AFGS showed aclear inhibition on homologous passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in rats. In vitro, AFGS significantly reduced histaminerelease from rat peritoneal mast cells triggered by compound 48/80 at concentrations of 20 and 50mg/ml.Moreover, AFGS (500, 1000mg/kg, p.o.) showed a significant inhibition on the hind paw edema in rats and earswelling in mice caused by carrageenin and croton oil, respectively. It also clearly inhibited the vascular permeabilityinduced by acetic acid in mice at a dose of 1000mg/kg. These findings demonstrate that the ethanolic extractfrom the anomalous fruits of Gleditsia sinensis possesses antiallergic and anti-inflammatory activities,which may be mediated by reducing the release of mediators such as histamine from mast cells and weakeningthe inflammatory action of these mediators.

Scopolefin exhibited an immediate and dose-dependent hypour-icemic effect after intraperitoneal administration (50, 100, 200mg/kg) in hyperuricemic mice induced by potassium oxo-nate; however, it did not affect the serum uric acid level in nor-mal mice at the tested doses. For exploring the involved mecha-nisms of action of scopoletin, potential inhibitory effects on xan-thine oxidase and possible uricosuric effects were investigated.Scopolefin (50, 100, 200mg/kg) significantly inhibited the activ-ity of xanthine oxidase in liver homogenates of hyperuricemicmice although it only showed a relatively weak, albeit competi-tive-type, inhibition of xanthine oxidase in a commercial assay.Furthermore, a potent uricosuric effect of scopoletin (100, 200mg/kg) was ascertained. These results demonstrated for thefirst time that scopoletin exhibits, hypouricemic activitiesthrough decreasing uric acid production and as well as a uricosu-tic mechanism.

Si-Wu-Tang (SWT), a traditional Chinese formula, has been clinically used in the treatment of cutaneouspruritus, chronic inflammation, and other diseases. The present study was carried out to observe the antipruriticand antiinflammatory effects of SWT aqueous extract using compound 48/80 and picryl chloride (PC) models inmice. SWT (500, 1000mg/kg p.o.) clearly reduced the scratching responses elicited by compound 48/80 in normalmice. At doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg, it inhibited the scratching responses induced by PC in mice actively sensitizedwith 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP)-ovalbumin (OVA) plus alum. Furthermore, SWT (250, 500, 1000mg/kg) significantlyinhibited the footpad swelling caused by compound 48/80 in mice. In the biphasic ear skin reactions inducedby PC in actively sensitized mice, SWT (250, 500mg/kg) reduced the immediate-phase reaction, but didnot affect the late-phase reaction. In vitro, SWT (50-500mg/ml) showed a concentration-dependent inhibitionof the histamine release induced by compound 48/80 from rat peritoneal mast cells. The crude drugs containedin SWT, Paeoniae Radix (25, 100mg/ml), Rehmanniae Radix, and Chuanxiong Rhizoma (100mg/ml), also showeda clear inhibition, but Angelica Radix did not at the concentrations examined. These findings indicate that SWTaqueous extract has antipruritic and antiinflammatory effects in mice. SWT inhibits histamine release from ratmast cells, and Paeoniae Radix probably plays a crucial role in the formula.

目的：观察猪牙皂正丁醇部分（NBGS）对过敏性鼻炎的治疗作用，探讨其可能的作用机制。方法：以卵白蛋白致敏小鼠或大鼠，观察药物对小鼠鼻炎症状、鼻腔敏感性和血清一氧化氮水平的影响，以及对大鼠鼻腔白细胞渗出的作用。结果：NBGS（100，200 mg•kg-1）灌胃给药，明显减少小鼠的擦鼻次数，降低鼻粘膜对组胺的敏感性和血清一氧化氮水平，抑制大鼠鼻腔嗜酸性粒细胞渗出，但对单核细胞和嗜中性粒细胞渗出无明显影响。结论：NBGS抑制过敏性鼻炎，其作用可能与降低鼻粘膜的高反应性及嗜酸性粒细胞浸润有关。