ABSTRACT
A remarkabale inhibitory activity was exhibited by the aqueous extract from Rhizoma smilacisglabrae(RSG) against both picryl chloride(PC)- induced contact dermatitis and sheep red bloodcells (SRBC)- induced footpad reaction.The effect of RSG was displayed more distinctlywheng given after than before the 2nd antigen challenge.RSG also showed a marked anti-in-flammatory activity against xylene- induced ear and egg whiteinduced footpad edema.Addi-tionally,RSG did not show a potable influence on IgM- and IgG-PFC counts against SRBC inmice.An increase but not decrease in serum hemolysin level,however,was observed in both groupsof RSG,peralleled with the finding that hemolytic plaques in PFC test were obviously biggerthan those in control.These results suggest that RSG has a selective activity to suppress the cellularimmune response without inhibiting the humoral immune response.The suppression to cellular im-munity by RSG may be presented mainly through affecting the inflammatory process after lym-phokine release.