Inhibitory effects of Korean folk medicine 'Hi-Chum' on histamine release from mast cells in vivo and in vitro.

The effect of aqueous extract of Siegesbeckia glabrescence (Compositae) whole plants (SGWP) on systemic or local anaphylaxis was studied. SGWP inhibited compound 48/80-induced systemic anaphylaxis 100% with a dose of 1000 mg/kg. Oral administration of SGWP (100 mg/kg) showed a marked inhibition rate in local immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction. When SGWP was pretreated at concentration ranging from 0.1 to 1000 mg/kg, the serum histamine levels were reduced in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, SGWP dose-dependently inhibited the histamine release from peritoneal mast cells by compound 48/80. These results indicate that SGWP possess strong antianaphylactic activity by inhibition of histamine release from mast cells.