Abstract
Objective : The water extract of Bojungikgi-tang (BTE) composed with Ginseng Radix, Astragali Radix, Angelicae gigantis Radix, Atractylodes Rhizoma alba, Aurantii nobilis Pericarpium, Glycyrrhizae Radix, Cimicifuga Rhizoma, and Bupleuri Radix and it has been traditionally used for chronic diseases or weakness after illness in oriental countries. However, little is known about the effects of aqueous extract of BTE on trimellitic anhydride (TMA)-induced contact hypersensitivity (CHS). Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of BTE on TMA-induced CHS in BALB/c mice.Methods : In this study, the extract of BTE was prepared by extracting with distilled water at 100℃ for 2.5 h. The extract was freeze-dried following filtration through 0.45 μm filter. Mice were orally administrated with or without BTE extract of different doses (25-200 ㎎/㎏/day) for 28 days. During the challenge period, mice were externally applied with different doses of BTE extract one time per day 30 min before TMA treatment. I examined the effects of BTE on the serum levels of IgE, IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG2b, nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E<sub>2</sub> (PGE<sub>2</sub>) production in isolated peritoneal macrophages, Th2 cytokine production in isolated spleen cells, ear swelling responses, and the leukocyte infiltration induced by TMA.Results : The orally and externally administration of BTE dose-dependently reduced the serum levels of hapten-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE), IgG1 titer, and PGE<sub>2</sub> production as well as ear swelling responses and leukocyte infiltration in TMA-induced BALB/c mice. The levels of NO and PGE<sub>2</sub> production from peritoneal macrophages stimulated with TMA-BSA were markedly suppressed by pretreatment with BTE in a concentration dependent manner. Furthermore, the levels of Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13) production from spleen cells stimulated with ConA were markedly suppressed by BTE treatment in a concentration dependent manner.Conclusions : These results suggest that BTE treatment suppresses chronic contact hypersensitivity, and it can be assumed that the suppression of ear swelling, serum IgE, NO and PGE<sub>2</sub> levels, leukocyte infiltration, and Th2 cytokines in an animal model. Therefore, these properties may contribute to the strong anti-CHS response effect of BTE.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
