본 연구에서는 버섯추출물 (42개)의 in vitro 항알레르 기 효능탐색을 위해 랫드비만세포 (RBL-2H3 cell)에서 면역글로불린 (IgE)가 매개한 탈과립에 대한 저해 효과를 실험하였다. 이를 위해 anti-DNP IgE 및 DNP-HSA에 의 해 알레르기반응이 유발된 랫드비만세포에서 버섯 추출물 의 IL-4과 β-hexosaminidase 분비량에 대한 저해활성과 세포생존에 대한 영향이 분석되었다. 실험결과, IL-4 분비 에 대해서는 팽이버섯 물추출물 등 5개의 버섯 추출물이 20% 이상의 우수한 저해효과를 나타내었으며, β- hexosaminidase 분비에 대해서는 영지버섯의 물추출물 등 8개의 버섯 추출물이 20% 이상의 비교적 우수한 저해활성 을 나타내었다. 세포증식에 대해서는 잎새버섯의 물추출물 등 대부분의 버섯 추출물이 우수한 세포증식효과를 나타 내었다. 팽이버섯의 물추출물과 상황버섯의 물추출물은 β- hexosaminidase 및 IL-4 분비에 대해 모두 비교적 우수한 저해효과를 나타내었다. 추가로 2, 10, 50 ug/ml에서 실험 된 영지버섯, 편각영지버섯, 눈꽃동충하초, 상황버섯 그리 고 느타리버섯의 물추출물들은 β-hexosaminidase의 분비 량을 농도-의존적으로 감소시켰다. 이상의 결과를 살펴볼 때, 이들 in vitro 항알레르기 효과를 나타낸 버섯 추출물 들은 추가실험을 통해 항알레르기 소재로의 활용성 검토 가 필요하다고 사료되었다.

Rubia cordifolia has been used to treat diseases for many years in China and India. Although the biological properties and major compounds of R. cordifolia have been extensively studied, the underlying mechanisms of its biological effects remain elusive. In terms of immunological effects, anti-inflammation effect of macrophage (Raw 264.7) simply has been reported. In this study, R. cordifolia was extracted in 70% ethanol and the extract did not affect to macrophage (Raw 264.7) pro-inflammation and T cell (Molt-4). However, in mast cell (RBL-2H3), it showed inhibition of degranulation. The inducing inhibitory effect on degranulation was related to concentration dependent variation in phosphorylation of ERK-1/2 and upregulating the JNK phosphorylation in RBL-2H3 cells. Based on these data, we concluded that R. cordifolia newly have anti-allergenic effects in RBL-2H3 and might be used as a therapeutic agent to treat or prevent allergic diseases such as asthma and atopic dermatitis.

In this study, the inhibitory activities of fifty plant extracts on IgE-mediated degranulation in the rat basophilic leukemia cell line (RBL-2H3 cells) were measured; the release of interleukin (IL)-4 and β-hexosaminidase from IgE-sensitized cells treated with the plant extracts was measured; and the effects of the plant extracts on cell viability were tested. The results of the analysis of plant extracts at 20 ㎍/㎖, including the aerial part of Magnolia sieboldii K. Koch, exhibited suppressive activities upon the release of IL-4. Furthermore, several plant extracts including methanol extracted from Lindera erythrocarpa Makino (aerial part) at the same concentration significantly inhibited the release of β-hexosaminidase. Twenty-six of the plant extracts, including methanol extract of Weigela subsessilis (Nakai) L. H. Bailey (branch), showed a cell proliferation effect of over 80% at 100 ㎍/㎖. In conclusion, the results suggest that the leaf/stem of Geum japonicum Thunb. and the stamen/ovary of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn., which exhibited effective inhibition on β-hexosaminidase release and IL-4 release from mast cells and showed high cell viability, could be useful candidates as anti-allergy materials.

Alpiniae officinarum Rhizoma (the rhizome of Alpinia officinarum Hance, known as lesser galangal), a family of Zingiberaceae, has been used to reduce pain of infection and inflammatory diseases in Asian countries. The present study was focused to evaluate the inhibitory degranulation effect of Alpiniae officinarum Rhizoma extract in RBL-2H3 rat basophilic leukemia cells. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. RBL-2H3 cells were stimulated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and calcium ionophore A23187. Mast cell degranulation was analyzed by measuring release of β -hexosaminidase in RBL-2H3 cell. Gene expression was measured by qRT-PCR and signaling molecules were detected by immunoblotting. The Alpiniae officinarum Rhizoma extract suppressed β-hexosaminidase release in dose-dependent manner and inhibited cycloxygenase-2 and tumor necrosis factor-α gene expression. Furthermore, it was found that Alpiniae officinarum Rhizoma extract reduced mitogen-activated protein kinases, especially phosphorylated p38, at 0.75 ㎎/㎖ of Alpiniae officinarum Rhizoma extract concentrations. These data show that Alpiniae officinarum Rhizoma extract has immunosuppressive effect in mast cell induced allergic inflammation.

The marine carotenoid fucoxanthin can be found in marine brown seaweeds, macroalgae, diatoms, and microalgae, and has remarkable biological properties. Numerous studies have shown that fucoxanthin has considerable potential and promising applications in human health, but the underlying mechanisms involved in its anti-allergic activity are not fully understood. We here investigated the mechanisms by anti-allergic activity of fucoxanthin fraction from Eisenia bicyclis in immunoglobulin E-antigen complex (IgE/DNP-BSA)-stimulated RBL-2H3 mast cells. This study we found that the fucoxanthin inhibits the release of β-hexosaminidase and suppressed not only transcriptional activation of NF-kB, but also phosphorylation of ERK and JNK in IgE/DNP-BSA-treated RBL-2H3 cells. Fucoxanthin may be useful for preventing allergic diseases, including asthma and atopic dermatitis.

The present study was conducted to investigate the anti-allergic reaction with Glycyrrhiza uralensis. We examined cell viability, β-hexosaminidase release, IL-4 and IL-13 mRNA expression from RBL-2H3 cell after pre-treatment with 0, 100, 250, 500, 1000μg/ml of Glycyrrhiza uralensis water extracts. Effects of Glycyrrhiza uralensis on the degranulation and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4 and IL-13) expression were evaluated with β-hexosaminidase assay, and RT-PCR analysis. We observed that Glycyrrhiza uralensis concentrations from 100μg/ml to 1000μg/ml had no effect on cell survival. The release of β-hexosaminidase decreased significantly with all concentrations of Glycyrrhiza uralensis extracts. The expression of the IL-4 and IL-13 mRNA were decreased by Glycyrrhiza uralensis in dose-dependent manner. These results that Glycyrrhiza uralensis has an anti-histamin effects and controls IL-4, IL-13 secretion on allergic reaction.