The
anti-allergic effect of an
ethanol extract from
Moutan Cortex was evaluated in some animal models. The
Moutan Cortex extract (30, 100 mg/kg, i.p.) dose-dependently inhibited systemic
anaphylactic shock induced by
compound 48/80 in mice. It also inhibited dose-dependently the scratching behavior induced by
compound 48/80 or
histamine at a dose of 100 mg/kg. An increase in the vascular permeability induced by
compound 48/80 or
histamine was also inhibited by the
Moutan Cortex. In addition, in vitro studies, the
Moutan Cortex inhibited histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells induced by
compound 48/80. To investigate the active component of
Moutan Cortex extract, it was suspended in water and extracted with EtOAc to yield EtOAc insoluble (A) and soluble (B) fractions. The effect of extract (B) was more potent than that of extract (A) in inhibiting histamine release. From these findings, it seems likely that the
Moutan Cortex extract is effective in antagonizing certain pharmacological effects induced by
compound 48/80, which is probably mediated by inhibiting the release of
histamine from mast cells and antagonizing the effect on
histamine. The main active component of
Moutan Cortex is considered to be contained in extract (B). In conclusion,
Moutan Cortex may be useful for the relief of symptoms of
atopic dermatitis and other
allergy-related diseases.