Evaluation of Moon-tang on allergic reactions.

Moon-tang (M-tang) is a traditional Korean medicine that has been used for the treatment of various allergic disorders. However, the precise antiallergic effect and mechanism of it remain unknown. To figure out accurately the effect of M-tang on mast cell-mediated allergic reactions, we measured parameters including changes in the compound 48/80-induced systemic anaphylaxis, ear-swelling response, histamine release, passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α secretion and expression, which related to allergic inflammatory reaction. The oral administration of M-tang inhibited systemic anaphylaxis and ear-swelling response in mice. M-tang suppressed the PCA and histamine release. In addition, M-tang and its active component, β-eudesmol, inhibited the TNF-α production and expression in activated mast cells. These results suggest that M-tang may be a beneficial applicability as a candidate for an antiallergic agent.