Effect of Periplogenin on Mast Cell Degranulation and Histamine Release

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of Periplogenin, a compound extracted and purified from traditional Chinese medicine Cortex Periplocae, on mast cell degranulation and histamine release in mice and rats. METHODS: Sensitization was induced by injecting pertussis vaccine injected in rats' abdominal cavity and ovalbumin injected in mice's hind leg to detect mast cell degranulation reaction and prepare anti-serum; rats were injected intraperitoneally with the diluted serum sample taken form sensitized rats to detect mast cell degranulation reaction; and the concentration of histamine was determined by fluorescence spectrophotometry. RESULTS: Periplogenin showed significant inhibitory effect on histamine release of mast cell cultured in vitro, and at experimental dose it could decrease histamine release by(69.4±8.6)% in an obvious dose-depe-ndent manner. Periplogenin also showed obvious inhibitory effect on histamine release of mast cells in antigen-sensitized rats,and at a concentration of 20 μg·mL-1,it could decrease histamine release by 73.55%, and at an oral dose of 50 mg·kg-1, it could dose-dependently reduce histamine release by above 80% in sensitized rats. CONCLUSION: Periplogenin showed significant inhibitory effects on histamine release of mast cells either cultured in vitro or in antigen-sensitized rats. Oral administration of Periplogenin can result in the significant reduction of histamine release of mast cells in rats. In view of the role that the mast cell histamine release and degranulation play in inflammation reaction, periplogenin can be regarded as one of the active anti-inflammation components of traditional Chinese medicine Cortex Periplocae.