Anti-allergic activity of standardized extract of Albizia lebbeck with reference to catechin as a phytomarker.

OBJECTIVE

The major groups of phytonutrients found in plants include polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenes, amines, etc., all of which are observed to have potential anti-allergic activity. In this study, we evaluated the anti-allergic activity of the standardized extract of Albizia lebbeck with respect to the catechin, a polyphenolic phytomarker.

METHODS

The percentage of catechin in the ethanolic extract was found to be 14.72 mg/g. We administered Albizia lebbeck (50-300 mg/kg) and 50 mg/kg of catechin to mice to evaluate the mast cell stabilization and estimation of histamine elevation in the plasma.

CONCLUSIONS

Results support the conclusion that Albizia lebbeck at different concentrations has got potent mast cell stabilizing property and the IC(50) value of Albizia lebbeck was found to be 85 microg/ml. This inhibitory potential of catechin from Albizia lebbeck is perhaps due to modulation of two important effector's functions, histamine release and cytokine expression of antigen -IgE activated mast cells.