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ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE

Effects of Prunella vulgaris on Mast Cell–Mediated Allergic Reaction and Inflammatory Cytokine Production

Sang-Yong Kim^*, Sang-Hyun Kim^,1, Hye-Young Shin, Jong-Pil Lim, Byeong-Suk Chae, Jeong-Suk Park, Seong-Gyun Hong, Myung-Soo Kim^*, Dong-Gwang Jo^*, Won-Hwan Park^|| and Tae-Yong Shin^,1

^* Division of Specimen and Genetic Resources, Korea National Arboretum, Pocheon, Gyeonggi 487-821, South Korea; BK21, Department of Pharmacology, Kyungpook National University Medical School, Daegu 700-422, South Korea; College of Pharmacy, Woosuk University, Jeonju, Jeonbuk 565-701, South Korea; Department of Oriental Alternative Medicine, Nambu University, Gwangju, 506-824, South Korea; and ^|| Cardiovascular Medical Research Center and Department of AM-Pointology & Diagnostics, Dongguk University, Kyung-Ju, Kyungpook 780-140, South Korea

To whom requests for reprints should be addressed at ¹ Department of Pharmacology, Kyungpook National University Medical School, Daegu 700-422, South Korea. E-mail: shkim72{at}knu.ac.kr and College of Pharmacy, Woosuk University, Jeonju 565-701, South Korea. E-mail: tyshin{at}woosuk.ac.kr

In this study, we investigated the effect of aqueous extract of Prunella vulgaris (Labiatae; PVAE) on the mast cell–mediated allergy model. We found that PVAE (0.001–0.1 g/kg) dose dependently inhibited compound 48/80–induced systemic anaphylaxis and serum histamine release in mice. PVAE decreased the IgE-mediated local allergic reaction, passive cutaneous anaphylaxis. In addition, PVAE attenuated phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and calcium ionophore A23187-stimulated TNF-, IL-6, and IL-8 secretion in human mast cells. The inhibitory effect of PVAE on proinflammatory cytokines was nuclear factor-B (NF-B) dependent. PVAE suppressed PMA and A23187-induced NF-B/DNA binding activity and NF-B–dependent gene reporter assay. Our findings provide evidence that PVAE inhibits mast cell–derived immediate-type allergic reactions and involvement of proinflammatory cytokines and NF-B in these effects.

Key Words: Prunella vulgaris • anaphylaxis • inflammatory cytokine • nuclear factor-B • mast cells