Anti-allergic effects of scoparone on mast cell-mediated allergy model

Scoparone is known to have a wide range of pharmacological properties in vitro However. the roles of scoparone in immediate-type allergic reactions have not yet been investigated. In this study, we demonstrated that scoparone attenuated IgE-mediated allergic response in mast cells Oral administration of scoparone inhibited passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in rats Presence of scoparone dose-dependently decreased histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMC) stimulated by anti-dinitrophenyl IgE. Moreover, scoparone reduced the expression and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 in RPMC. Pretreatment with scoparone inhibited the calcium uptake and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity. Furthermore, scoparone blocked translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) p65 Subunit by suppressing I kappa B alpha phosphorylation in RPMC. Reduced calcium uptake as well as the suppressed activity of p38 MAPK and NF-kappa B might be involved in the inhibitory effect of scoparone on the secretory response. Our findings Suggest that scoparone may serve as an effective therapeutic agent for allergic diseases (C) 2009 Elsevier GmbH All rights reserved.