Asiasari radix inhibits immunoglobulin E production on experimental models in vitro and in vivo.

Immunoglobulin (Ig) E is the principal Ig involved in immediate hypersensitivities and chronic allergic diseases. The hallmark of these disorders is increased IgE production. The effect of an aqueous extract of the roots of Asiasari radix (ARAE) on an in vivo and in vitro IgE production was investigated. ARAE dose-dependently inhibited the active systemic anaphylaxis and serum IgE production induced by immunization with ovalbumin, Bordetella pertussis toxin and aluminum hydroxide gel. ARAE strongly inhibited IL-4-dependent IgE production by lipopolysaccharide- stimulated murine whole spleen cells. In the case of U266 human IgE-bearing B cells, ARAE also showed an inhibitory effect on the IgE production. These results suggest that ARAE has an anti-allergic activity by inhibition of IgE production from B cells.