Biol. Pharm. Bull. 30(1) 197—199 (2007)

tis, asthma and food allergy, are now rapidly increasing chronic health problem in most countries. Mast cells and basophils are well-known as a critical participant in various biologic processes of allergic diseases. These cells express on their surface membrane receptors with high affinity and specificity for IgE. The interaction of multivalent antigens with surface-bound IgE releases histamine, prostaglandins, leukotrienes and cytokines. These cytokines activate chemotaxis and phagocytosis of neutrophils and macrophages. Finally cytokine-induced reaction causes tissue inflammation. Therefore, antiallergic agents, such as anti-histamines, steroids and immunosuppressants, have been using against allergic diseases. However, improving these diseases is too difficult. Therefore, herbal medicines have been advanced for allergic diseases, and its effectiveness has received increasing attention. The unripe fruit of Evodia rutaecarpa (JUSS) BENTH (ER, Family Rutaceae) have been used in Korea, Japan and China as a traditional herbal medicine. ER, which contains quninzoline alkaloids, such as ruatecarpine and evodiamine, as main components, is reported to have many biological properties including stimulation of vasodilation, positive cardiotonic effects, inhibition of pain, and inhibition of prostaglandin production. Nevertheless, its pharmacological studies mainly have been focused on anti-inflammatory activity. Therefore, to evaluate its antiallergic activity, we isolated main components from the fruit of Evodia rutaecarpa and in vivo evaluated their inhibitory activities against scratching behaviors and anaphylaxis.