• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.376-382
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• 2015

Allergic diseases have rapidly increased in recent years. Mast cells play a critical role in IgE-mediated allergy responses and, therefore, closely associated with rhinitis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis. We studied anti-allergic effect of Penthorum chinense extract (PCE) in vitro and in vivo. PCE inhibited the degranulation of mast cells by antigen stimulation and its effect was dose-dependent and reversible in mast cells. PCE also suppressed the production of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-4 by antigen in mast cells. Mechanistically, PCE inhibited the activation of Syk/LAT pathway which is a key signaling pathway for the activation of mast cells by antigen. Notably, PCE suppressed IgE-mediated allergic responses by antigen in mice. These results strongly suggest that PCE is a potential candidate for anti-allergic treatment.