Effects of siegesbeckia pubescens on immediate hypersensitivity reaction.

This study was carried out to examine the effect of an aqueous extract from Siegesbeckia pubescens (Compositae) (SPAE) on immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated immediate hypersensitivity reaction. Forty-eight hours passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in rats was significantly inhibited by oral administration of SPAE (100 micrograms/g). It also inhibited histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells induced by anti-dinitrophenyl (DNP)-IgE and DNP-human serum albumin. The data indicate that SPAE has antiallergic activity, and that its action may be due to inhibition of histamine release from mast cells.