Effect of Gamiseunggal-Tang on immediate type allergic reaction in mice.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE The herbal formulation, Gamiseunggal-Tang (G-Tang) has long been used for various allergic diseases. The mechanism of its action is largely unknown. We carried out this study to determine the effect of G-Tang on the mast cell-mediated anaphylactic reactions in vivo and in vitro murine models. METHODS In this study, the effects of G-Tang on the mast cell-mediated anaphylactic reactions were examined by using the ear swelling, histamine assay, and ELISA method in murine model. RESULTS Anal administration of G-Tang showed dose-dependent inhibitory activity on the compound 48/80-induced ear swelling response (P<0.05) and histamine release (P<0.01). G-Tang (0.001-0.1 g/kg) significantly inhibited passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (P<0.05) in mice. The production of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) was also significantly inhibited (about 47.4%, at 0.1 mg/ml, P<0.01) by treatment of G-tang in anti-dinitrophenyl IgE antibodystimulated mast cells. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION Findings of our study showed that G-Tang inhibited immediate type allergic reaction in a murine model and may be beneficial in the treatment of allergic inflammatory diseases.