Ethanolic Extract of Alternanthera sessilis (AS-1) Inhibits IgE-mediated Allergic Response in RBL-2H3 Cells

Abstract

The present study was designed to investigate the anti-allergic effects of ethanolic extract of Alternanthera sessilis (AS-1) in rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells. It significantly reduced the β-hexosaminidase release from anti-DNP-IgE sensitized RBL-2H3 cells. AS-1also inhibited the IgE antibody-induced increase in Interleukin-6 (IL-6), TNF-α, IL-13 and IL-4 production in these cells. The inhibitory effect of AS-1 on these cytokine was found to be nuclear factor-KB (NF-kB) dependent, as it attenuated the degradation of IKBa and nuclear translocation of NFkB. In addition, AS-1 significantly attenuated the DNP HAS-induced intracellular Ca²⁺ release from these cells, which makes us speculate strongly that the decreased intracellular Ca²⁺ is involved in the inhibitory effect of AS-1 on β-hexoaminidase release. Taken together, anti-allergic effects of AS-1 suggest possible therapeutic application of this extract in allergic diseases.

• Alternanthera sessilis
• RBL-2H3 cells
• IL-6
• TNF-α
• IL-13
• IL-4
• NF-κB
• IκBα
• β-hexoaminidase.

Acknowledgments

The study was sponsored by Director IIIM (CSIR), Jammu, India under grant number NWP0033. We are also highly thankful to Dr. S. N. Sharma, Taxonomist of Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine for collection and authentication of plant material.

Declaration of interest: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this manuscript.