Antiallergic and Anti-inflammatory Properties of the Ethanolic Extract from Gleditsia sinensis.

Abstract

In traditional Chinese medicine, various parts of Gleditsia sinensis LAM. (Leguminosae) are used for different remedies and express specific therapeutic values. The thorns of G. sinensis are used for the treatment of carbuncle, scabies and suppurative skin diseases, while the mature pods and anomalous fruits (fruits without seeds) are mainly used for treating apoplexy, headache, productive cough, asthma and scabies.1)The thorns of G. sinensis have been reported to show inhibitory effects on mast cell-dependent anaphylaxis and on the growth of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.2,3) However, little research has been done to identify the pharmacological properties of the pods and the anomalous fruits of G. sinensis.Phytochemical investigations have shown that the anomalous fruits of G. sinensis contain over ten kinds of oleananetype triterpenoidal saponins. [4][5][6] Research has demonstrated that oleanolic acid, oleanane-type triterpenoidal saponins and herb medicines rich in this kind of saponin possess antiallergic and anti-inflammatory activities. [7][8][9][10][11][12] Thus, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of the 70% ethanolic extract from the anomalous fruits of G. sinensis on immediate allergic reactions and acute inflammation. MATERIALS AND METHODS Preparation of ExtractThe anomalous fruits of Gleditsia sinensis were purchased from an herbal market in Nanjing, China in October 2001. A voucher specimen (Dai 0103) is deposited in the Department of Pharmacology of Chinese Materia Medica, China Pharmaceutical University. Two hundreds grams of Gleditsia sinensis fruits were ground and refluxed with 70% ethanol (1.5 l) three times for 1 h. After filtration through filter paper, the clear supernatant was concentrated under reduced pressure at 45°C with a vacuum rotary evaporator, and lyophilized to give a dry extract (74.1 g). The extract (AFGS) was freshly prepared in distilled water or physiological buffer saline (PBS) just before use. Chemicals and ReagentsCompound 48/80, ovalbumin (chicken egg, Grade V), croton oil, carrageenin, 5-hydroxytryptamine hydrochloride (serotonin) and indomethacin were purchased from Sigma (St. Louis, MO, U.S.A.). Inactive bacterial suspension of Bordetella pertussis, o-phthalaldehyde (OPT), prednisolone and histamine dihydrochloride were from Wako (Osaka, Japan), and disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) was from Biomol (PA, U.S.A.). Other reagents used were of analytical grade. All reagents were dissolved in distilled water for oral administration or in physiological saline for subcutaneous and intraperitoneal administration.Animals Male SD rats (weighing 180-220 g) and male ICR mice (weighing 18-20 g, 24-26 g) from the animal center of The Chinese University of Hong Kong were used. They were maintained on a standard pellet diet with free access to water, and housed in an air-contained room at 24Ϯ 2°C with lighting from 8:00 to 20:00.Systemic Anaphylactic Shock Induced by Compound 48/80 in Mice The experiment was carried out according to the method of Shin et al. 13) Mi...

Inhibitory effects of the ethanol extract of Gleditsia sinensis thorns on human colon cancer HCT116 cells in vitro and in vivo

“…Of these, various parts of Gleditsia sinensis have been evaluated in China and Korea for potential therapeutic effects (23). The fruits and seeds of Gleditsia sinensis have primarily been used for treating apoplexy, headache, asthma and scabies (24). On the other hand, the thorns are used for the treatment of carbuncle, scabies, suppurative skin diseases and anti-inflammatory effects (23).…”

Crescimento de mudas deGleditschia amorphoidesTaub. produzidas em diferentes substratos

“…Para espécies deste gênero é comum o uso medicinal como registrado por Konoshima et al (1995), em fruto de G. japonica com atividade anti-HIV. Em frutos Gleditschia sinensis, foram descobertas atividades antileucêmicas (CHOW et al, 2003), inibição do crescimento de células tumorais (CHUI et al, 2004) e inibição de reações alérgicas e inflamatórias (DAI et al, 2002).…”

<i>In Vivo</i> Anti-tumor Effects of the Ethanol Extract of <i>Gleditsia sinensis</i> Thorns and Its Active Constituent, Cytochalasin H

“…(Leguminosae) has been used in traditional oriental medicine to treat diverse diseases, such as suppuration, carbuncle, obesity, and thrombosis. [7][8][9][10] The crude extract of G. sinensis thorns has multiple pharmacological effects, including anti-mutagenic, anti-microbial, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-angiogenic effects. 11,12) Several previous studies reported anti-tumor effects of G. sinensis thorns in cancer cells and animal models, 7,13,14) but its active constituent is not clear.…”