Anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects of butanol extract from Arctium Lappa L

This study examined the effect of ALBE on the release of β-hexosaminidase in antigen-stimulated-RBL-2H3 cells. We also evaluated the ConA-induced expression of IL-4, IL-5, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), and nuclear factor (NF)-κB using RT-PCR, Western blotting, and ELISA in mouse splenocytes after ALBE treatment.We observed significant inhibition of β-hexosaminidase release in RBL-2H3 cells and suppressed mRNA expression and protein secretion of IL-4 and IL-5 induced by ConA-treated primary murine splenocytes after ALBE treatment. Additionally, ALBE (100 μg/mL) suppressed not only the transcriptional activation of NF-κB, but also the phosphorylation of MAPKs in ConA-treated primary splenocytes.These results suggest that ALBE inhibits the expression of IL-4 and IL-5 by downregulating MAPKs and NF-κB activation in ConA-treated splenocytes and supports the hypothesis that ALBE may have beneficial effects in the treatment of allergic diseases, including atopic dermatitis.Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, allergic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by pruritic chronic eczema, elevated serum IgE levels, and massive cellular infiltrates, including eosinophils, mast cells, and lymphocytes [1,2]. Because mast cells play essential roles in provoking the pathogenesis of allergic reactions via the degranulation process, measuring the degree of degranulation reflects the level of mast cell activation. β-Hexosaminidase released by these cells during this process has been reported to be a suitable marker for determining the degree of degranulation [3]. After an allergen triggers the allergic reactions, allergic mediators, including histamine, cytokines, and arachidonic acid derivatives, provoke acute and chronic allergic inflammation responses [4,5]. Various cells involved in the allergic reaction infiltrate the lesion. Among these, T helper 2 (Th2) cells are the most important cell type involved in atopic dermatitis development. Th2 cells release cytokines, such a