Anti-allergic effects of sinomenine by inhibition of prostaglandin D2 and leukotriene C4 in mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells

Sinomenine is an alkaloid compound and a prominent anti-allergic agent found in the root of the climbing plant Sinomenium acutum. However, its effects on the bone marrow-derived mast cell (BMMC) mediated allergy and inflammation mechanism remain unknown. In this study, the biological effects of sinomenine were evaluated while focusing on its effects on the allergic mediator in PMA plus A23187-stimulated BMMCs. An investigation was also conducted to determine its effects on the production of several allergic mediators including interleukin-6 (IL-6), prostaglandin D-2 (PGD(2)), leukotriene C-4 (LTC4), beta-Hexosaminidase (beta-Hex), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein. The results revealed that sinomenine inhibited the PMA plus A23187-induced production of IL-6, PGD(2), LTC4, beta-Hex, and COX-2 protein. Taken together, these findings indicate that sinomenine has the potential for use in the treatment of allergy.