This study was performed to evaluate the antioxidant activities and anti-asthma effects of Morus bark water extracts. Inhibitory effect of Morus bark onto free radical generation was determined by measuring DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities in vitro. Anti-asthma activities of Morus bark water extracts were assessed by testing their effects on the degranulation of mast cell. For this, β-hexosaminidase released from a basophilic cell line, RBL-2H3 was used and pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured by ELISA kit. The antioxidant activities of water extracts of Morus bark was 59.2% in the DPPH assay at 2,000 ㎍/mL and 78.8% in the hydroxyl radical scavenging assay at 2,000 ㎍/mL. Our results indicated that Morus bark water extracts effectively inhibited free radical generation. Morus bark water extracts inhibited inflammation-mediating substances such as histamine and β-hexosaminidase release from RBL-2H3 cells. Cytokine release demonstrated a more effective blockading ability of the Morus bark water extracts to the release of IL-4 and TNF-α compared to control. These results demonstrate that Morus bark may be beneficial in the treatment of allergic inflammatory disease.
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