Effects of Panax ginseng on Immune Hypersensitivity

There have been several reports regarding the effects of Panax ginseng on allergy reactions. However, they are very sporadic and no systemic yet. To study the effects of Panax ginseng on hypersensitivity, either ginseng total saponin (GTS, 200mg/kg, oral, two hours prior to experiments) or ethanol extract (50 and 200 mg/kg, oral, one week) was administered. Various parameters were employed to assess the anti-allergic actions of Panax ginseng 48hr passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA), skin reactions, histamine release from rat peritoneal mast eel Is, and lipoxygenase activity. In 48hr PCA, and in skin reactions induced by chemical mediators (histamine, serotonin) and mediator releaser (compound 48/80), Panax ginseng did not suppress sensitized immune functions, rather showed tendency to increase the histamine-induced vascular permeabi1ity. Panax ginseng did not inhibit lipoxygenase activity either.