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Abstract
Context
Huoxiangzhengqi oral liquid (HXZQ-OL), a traditional Chinese medicine formula, has antibacterial, anti-inflammation and gastrointestinal motility regulation effects.
Objective
The study investigates the anti-allergic activity and underlying mechanism of HXZQ-OL.
Materials and methods
IgE/Ag-mediated RBL-2H3 cells were used to evaluate the anti-allergic activity of HXZQ-OL (43.97, 439.7 and 4397 μg/mL) in vitro. The release of cytokines and eicosanoids were quantified using ELISA. RT-qPCR was used to measure the gene expression of cytokines. The level of intracellular Ca2+ was measured with Fluo 3/AM. Immunoblotting analysis was performed to investigate the mechanism of HXZQ-OL. In the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA), BALB/c mice (5 mice/group) were orally administrated with HXZQ-OL (263.8, 527.6 and 1055 mg/kg/d) or dexamethasone (5 mg/kg/d, positive control) for seven consecutive days.
Results
HXZQ-OL not only inhibited degranulation of mast cells (IC50, 123 μg/mL), but also inhibited the generation and secretion of IL-4 (IC50, 171.4 μg/mL), TNF-α (IC50, 88.4 μg/mL), LTC4 (IC50, 52.9 μg/mL) and PGD2 (IC50, 195.8 μg/mL). Moreover, HXZQ-OL suppressed the expression of IL-4 and TNF-α mRNA, as well as the phosphorylation of Fyn, Lyn and multiple downstream signalling proteins including MAPK and PI3K/NF-κB pathways. In addition, HXZQ-OL (527.5 mg/kg) attenuated the IgE-mediated PCA with 55% suppression of Evans blue exudation in mice.
Conclusions
HXZQ-OL attenuated the activation of mast cell and PCA. Therefore, HXZQ-OL might be used as an alternative treatment for allergic diseases.
Disclosure statement
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.
Correction Statement
This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.