Abstract
Background and aim: The major groups of phytonutrients found in plants include polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenes, amines, etc., all of which are observed to have potential anti-allergic activity. In this study, we evaluated the anti-allergic activity of the standardized extract of Albizia lebbeck with respect to the catechin, a polyphenolic phytomarker.
Material and methods: The percentage of catechin in the ethanolic extract was found to be 14.72 mg/g. We administered Albizia lebbeck (50–300 mg/kg) and 50 mg/kg of catechin to mice to evaluate the mast cell stabilization and estimation of histamine elevation in the plasma.
Results and conclusion: Results support the conclusion that Albizia lebbeck at different concentrations has got potent mast cell stabilizing property and the IC50 value of Albizia lebbeck was found to be 85 μg/ml. This inhibitory potential of catechin from Albizia lebbeck is perhaps due to modulation of two important effector’s functions, histamine release and cytokine expression of antigen -IgE activated mast cells.
Acknowledgements
The authors are thankful to the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, and Japan Society for Promotion of Science (JSPS) File No. DST/INT/JAP/P-62/08; through the India-Japan Cooperative Science Program. Thanks are also due to the Indian Council of Medical Research, Government of India, New Delhi: F. No- 45/29/2007/BMS/TRM, for providing a senior research fellowship to P. Venkatesh.
Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.