Cortex Mori Inhibits the CGG-specific IgE-Dependent Histamine Release

Cortex Mori, the root bark of mulbery tree has been used as an antiphlogistic, diuretic, and expectorant in herbal medicine. The purpose of this study is to evaluate chicken gamma globulin (CGG)-specific IgE-induced morphologic and functional changes in rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMC), and to determine whether Cortex Mori could inhibit the CGG-specific IgE-depeildent mast cell degranulation and histamine release from RPMC. Results are 1) the degranuration and histamine release from RPMC were not induced within 1 hour after addition of Cortex Mori alone, 2) the CGG and CGG-specific IgE-Induced degranulation from RPMC was observed within 10 minutes, 3) the histamine release from RPMC sensitised with CGG-specific IgE was induced by tile addition of CGG, 4) CGG-specific IgE-dependent degranulation rate in RPMC pretreated with Cortex Mori was significantly Inhibited, compared to that of control group without Cortex Mori pretreatment, and 5) the CGG-specific IgE-dependent histamine release from RPMC was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with Cortex Mori. These data suggest that Cortex Mori contains some substances with capabilities to inhibit CGG-specific IgE-dependent degranulation and histamine release from RPMC.