Anti-allergic actions of F-PASA, a novel herbal cocktail, in IgE/antigen-mediated allergic responses in RBL-2H3 cells and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in mice.

The anti-inflammatory actions of Polygonum cuspidatum, Angelica gigas, Sophora flavescens and Arctium fruit are well known. Nonetheless, effects of herbal combination (PASA) or its fermentation by microorganisms (F-PASA) on the allergic response remain unknown.We investigated whether PASA or F-PASA could inhibit IgE/antigen complex (IgE/Ag)-mediated allergic responses.To evaluate and compare anti-allergic actions of PASA and F-PASA, we performed cell viability, β-hexosaminidase activity, ELISA assays for cytokines and eicosanoids, immunoblot analysis, HPLC analysis and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) models.

F-PASA had stronger anti-degranulation actions (IC₅₀, 510.9 µg/ml) than PASA (IC₅₀, 1,261 µg/ml) without cytotoxicity until 2000 µg/ml in IgE/Ag-activated RBL-2H3 cells. Additionally, F-PASA inhibited formation of tumor necrosis factor-α (IC₅₀, 147.4 µg/ml), interleukin-4 (IC₅₀, 213.4 µg/ml), prostaglandin D₂ (IC₅₀, 42.40 µg/ml) and leukotriene C₄ (IC₅₀, 157.9 µg/ml). Moreover, F-PASA dose-dependently inhibited the phosphorylation and expression of proteins that are related to the FcεRI and arachidonate cascades. Consistent with in vitro studies, F-PASA from 25 to 100 mg/kg also suppressed IgE/Ag-induced PCA reaction more than PASA did in mice. In phytochemical analysis, using PASA and F-PASA, F-PASA showed a higher level of emodin-8-O-β-d-glucoside, whereas the level of arctiin, an artigenin glycoside, was reduced compared with that using PASA.

These findings indicate that F-PASA, including both artigenin and emodin-8-O-β-d-glucoside, possesses stronger anti-allergic properties. Therefore, F-PASA may be useful as a functional food or as a phytomedicine for allergic diseases.