Abstract

Effects of Panax ginseng on allergic reactions were studied uslng various in vivo and in vitro experimental models such as 48-hr passive cutaneous anaphylaxis, mediators-induced skin reactions, histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells, hexosaminidase release from RBL-2H3 cells, and lipoxygenase assay . In all of anti-allergic experiments we conducted, ginseng components (50% ethanol extract or ginseng total saponin or ginsenosides) extracted from Korean red ginseng, did not show significant anti-allergic actions. In 48-hr passive cutaneous anaphylaxis and mediators-induced skin reactions, 50% ethanol extract did not suppress hypersensitivity reactions. Total saponin, 50% ethanol extract, and 8 major ginsenosides did not show inhibitory effects on lipoxygeanse activity. Ginseng total saponin did not inhibit histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells. All of the ginseng components mentioned above were also tested on RBL-2H3 cells, but none of them inhibited hexosaminidase release from this cell line. These results suggest that Panax ginseng does not have effects on allergic reactions at the level of 50% ethanol extract or total saponin used. All of 8 major saponin components tested ($Rb_1$, $Rb_2$, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, $Rg_1$, $Rg_2$), did not inhibit lipoxygenase activity and degranulation events.

Keywords

• Panax ginseng;
• allergy;
• 48-hr passive cutaneous anaphylaxis;
• degranulation;
• lipoxygenase;
• ginsenosides