Antiallergic activity of a disaccharide isolated from Sanguisorba officinalis

The antiallergic activity of the natural disaccharide, 5-O-alpha-D-(3-C-hydroxymethyl)lyxofuranosyl-beta-D-(2-C-hydroxymethyl)arabinofuranose was evaluated using both in vivo and in vitro experimental models. Intravenously administered compound inhibited the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis response in rats in a dose-dependent manner (ED(50) = 9.6 mg/kg). The compound inhibited histamine release evoked by both compound 48/80 and calcium ionophore A23187 in rat peritoneal mast cells indicating that mast cell stabilization is the major mechanism of action for its antiallergic activity. In passively sensitized isolated guinea-pig hearts, an in vitro anaphylaxis model in which histamine release plays a key role for functional deterioration, the compound markedly diminished both coronary flow reduction and histamine release on challenge to the antigen. These data demonstrate that this antiallergic natural disaccharide exerts its effect via inhibition of mast cell mediator release.