Inhibitory effects of AF.343, a mixture of cassia tora L., ulmus pumila L., and taraxacum officinale, on compound 48/80 mediated allergic responses in RBL.2H3 cells

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the antiallergic effects of AF.343, a mixture of natural plant extracts from Cassia tora L., Ulmus pumila L., and Taraxacum officinale, on rat basophilic leukemia (RBL.2H3) cells. The inhibitory effects on cell degranulation, proinflammatory cytokine secretion, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were studied in compound 48/80.treated RBL.2H3 cells. The bioactive compounds in AF.343 were also identified by HPLC-UV. AF.343 was found to effectively suppress compound 48/80.induced β.hexosaminidase release, and interleukin (IL).4 and tumor necrosis factor.α (TNF.α) production in RBL.2H3 cells. In addition, AF.343 exhibited DPPH free radical scavenging effects in vitro (half.maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) = 105 μg/mL) and potently inhibited compound 48/80.induced cellular ROS generation in a 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH.DA) assay. Specifically, treatment with AF.343 exerted stronger antioxidant effects in vitro and antiallergic effects in cells than treatment with three single natural plant extracts. Furthermore, AF.343 was observed to contain bioactive compounds, including catechin, aurantio.obtusin, and chicoric acid, which have been reported to elicit antiallergic responses. This study reveals that AF.343 attenuates allergic responses via suppression of β.hexosaminidase release, IL.4 and TNF.α secretion, and ROS generation, perhaps through mechanisms related to catechin, aurantio.obtusin, and chicoric acid. The results indicate that AF-343 can be considered a treatment for various allergic diseases.