Action of Sosiho-Tang on systemic and local anaphylaxis by anal administration

The herbal formulation Soshiho-Tang (SS-Tang) has been used against allergic disease for generations, and still occupies an important place in traditional medicine in Korea. Previously, we reported that SS-Tang potently inhibited mast cell- mediated anaphylaxis when orally administered. In this study, we investigated the effect of SS-Tang by anal administration in anaphylaxis responses. SS-Tang dose-dependently inhibited compound 48/80-induced systemic anaphylaxis with doses of 10(-4) to 1 g/kg 1 h before anally administered. Of special note, SS-Tang inhibited systemic anaphylaxis completely with a dose of 1 g/kg. SS-Tang reduced plasma histamine levels induced by compound 48/80 significantly. However, the mortality was 100% when SS-Tang was administered after compound 48/80 treatment. SS-Tang (10(-1) g/kg) also inhibited passive cutaneous anaphylaxis activated by anti-dinitrophenyl IgE antibody by 30.9%. These results provide evidence that anal therapy of SS-Tang may be beneficial in the treatment of systemic and local anaphylaxis.