Inhibitory Effect of Acteoside Isolated from Cistanche tubulosa on Chemical Mediator Release and Inflammatory Cytokine Production by RBL-2H3 and KU812 Cells

The immediate-type allergic reaction is involved in many allergic diseases such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, and sinusitis. In this study, we investigated the effect of acteoside extracted from Cistanche tubulosa (Schrenk) R. Wight on the basophilic cell-mediated allergic reaction. The effect of acteoside on beta-hexosaminidase release and intracellular [Ca2+](i) level from rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells was determined. Also, ELISA was used to determine the level of histamine, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and interleukin (IL)-4 on human basophilic (KU812) cells. The effect of acteoside on basophilic cell viability was determined using the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazolyl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. These results indicated that 0.1-10.0 mu g/mL acteoside inhibits the release of beta-hexosaminidase and [Ca2+](i) influx from IgE-mediated RBL-2H3 cells. Moreover, acteoside inhibited histamine release, TNF-alpha, and IL-4 production in a dose-dependent manner from calcium ionophore A23187 plus phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) or compound 48/80-stimulated KU812 cells. Our findings provide evidence that acteoside inhibits basophilic cell-derived immediate-type and delayed-type allergic reactions. This is the first report describing antiallergic activity of acteoside extracted from Cistanche tubulosa on basophilic cells.