Effects of KOB03, a polyherbal medicine in mast cell-mediated allergic response in ovalbumin-induced allergic rhinitis in vivo model and RBL-2H3 mast cells. (177.14)

Abstract KOB03 is a polyherbal medicine originating from Korean Traditional Medicine, which has been clinically applied for the treatment of allergic diseases. Here, we investigated the inhibitory effects of KOB03 on mast cell-mediated allergic responses on ovalbumin-induced allergic rhinitis in guinea pigs and RBL-2H3 mast cells. To determine the effect of KOB03 on mast cell-mediated allergic reactions, we investigated the parameter changes on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic rhinitis in guinea pigs, and the release of allergic inflammatory mediators such as histamine, IgE and inflammatory cytokines in DNP-IgE-stimulated RBL-2H3 mast cells. The oral administration of KOB03 at doses of 200 and 500 mg/kg in OVA-sensitized/challenged guinea pig significantly decreased the serum levels of OVA-specific IgE, histamineand TNF-alpha KOB03 also inhibited the histopathological changes of nasal mucosa with the infilteration of eosinophils and inflammatory cells. Furthermore, KOB03 significantly inhibited DNP-IgE-induced release of histamine in RBL-2H3 cells via suppressing the ERK1/2 phosphorylation. These data suggest that KOB03 has an anti-allergic activity by modulating mast cell-mediated allergic responses.