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Published on: September 16, 2011
Pycnogenol inhibits immunoglobulin E-mediated allergic response in mast cells
1Department of Anatomy, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Jeonbuk, 561-756, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
IgE-dependent mast cell activation is known to be associated with the allergic diseases. Pycnogenol (PYC) is a standardized extract of the bark of French maritime pine containing bioflavonoids with a potent antioxidant activity. The antiallergic activity of PYC was evaluated using both in vivo and in vitro experimental models. Oral administration of PYC significantly inhibited anti-dinitrophenyl (DNP) IgE-mediated passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in rats. In an in vitro study, PYC dose-dependently reduced histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMC) triggered by anti-DNP IgE. PYC inhibited the protein expression and secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 in anti-DNP IgE-stimulated RPMC. Moreover, PYC decreased anti-DNP IgE-induced calcium uptake into RPMC. Furthermore, PYC suppressed nuclear factor-kappa B activation. From these results, the clinical use of PYC in the mast cell-mediated immediate-type allergic diseases is proposed.
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