Improvement of the Antiinflammatory and Antiallergic Activity of Bidens pilosa L. var. radiata SCHERFF Treated with Enzyme (Cellulosine)

Bidens pilosa L. var. radiata SCHERFF (Tachiawayukisendangusa: Musashino Miyako Bidens Pilosa (MMBP)) has been reported to have antiinflammatory and antiallergic properties in the treatment of experimental diseases. We studied the antiinflammatory and anti-allergic effects of enzymatic digested MMBP (eMMBP), MMBP treated with Cellulosine, using an experimental inflammatory and allergic model. Oral administration of eMMBP suspension in carboxy-methyl-cellulose sodium solution inhibited the production of IgE 10 days after immunization with 2,4-dinitrophenylate (DNP)-ascaris in mice. Oral administration of eMMBP suspension inhibited dye exudation in rat skin induced by passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) and chemical mediators (histamine and substance P). The effects of eMMBP on the inhibition of histamine release from mast cells induced by compound 48/80 or antigen-antibody reaction was stronger than that of the hot-water extract (HWex). Caffeic acid and flavonoids (hyperin and isoquercitrin) in eMMBP are increased more than those in HWex of MMBP, as estimated using HPLC. These results suggest that eMMBP has antiinflammatory and antiallergic activity, and that enzymatic digestion enhances its antiallergic activity by the inhibition of histamine release from the mast cells due mainly to an increase in caffeic acid and flavonoids. The enzymatic digestion of MMBP might be useful in enhancing its antiinflammatory and antiallergic activities.