Abstract
The unripe fruit of Poncirus trifoliata Raf has been used for the treatment of allergic disease. Recently it was reported that the fruit inhibits passive cutaneous anaphylaxis and histamine release at mast cell. Type I immediate hypersensitivity of anaphylactic type is caused by released mediate chemical at mast cell. Histamine is also known as one of potent mediate chemical. Also release of mediate chemical is affected by specific stimulation of IgE combined with mast cell. Activation of mast cell is known to be stimulated by compound 48/80 and inhibited by increase of cAMP. In this experiment, the effect of water extract of Poncirus trifoliata Raf fruit (PT) on a histamine release, cAMP concentration and IgE production was measured. Compound 48/80 was administrated to the mouse peritoneal cell which was pretreated with PT. PT dosedependently inhibited histamine release at peritoneal mast cell and the serum level of histamine induced by compound 48/80. PT also instantly increased cAMP level of peritoneal mast cell right after it was added and the level gradually decreased. Production of IgE induced by antigens at mouse peritoneal cell was inhibited by PT. The IgE synthesis is induced by IL-4 and it is known that lipopolysaccharide(LPS) plus IL-4 cause an increase in IgE secretion by murine B cells. The effects of PT inhibited the production of IgE activated by LPS plus IL-4 at human U266B1 cells. These results indicate that PT has antiallergic activity by Inhibition of IgE production from B cells and histamine release by increase of cAMP.