Antipruritic effect of the single oral administration of German chamomile flower extract and its combined effect with antiallergic agents in ddY mice.

The single peroral administration of the ethyl acetate extract or essential oil of German chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) showed remarkable antipruritic effects in the compound 48/80-induced itch-scratching test in ddY mice, if suitable vehicle was used. The ethyl acetate extract or essential oil of German chamomile dissolved in the vehicle of 10% ethanol, 10% Tween 80 and 80% physiological saline was orally administrated 2 h before pruritus provocation by compound 48/80 subcutaneous injection. The ethyl acetate extract or essential oil of German chamomile showed significant dose-dependent inhibition of the compound 48/80-induced scratching without affecting spontaneous motor activity. The antipruritic effects of antihistamine H1 antagonists, oxatomide (10 mg/kg) and fexofenadine (10 mg/kg), were only partial in this test. However, the antipruritic effects of these agents were remarkably enhanced by the combined administration of the ethyl acetate extract of German chamomile (300 mg/kg). Thus, the co-medication with the ethyl acetate extract, or essential oil of German chamomile and antihistamines might be effective for the pruritus which could not be perfectly resolved alone by conventional antihistamines.