ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the influence of Acorus gramineus (Soland), a crude extract, SCP01, and a purified component, SCP02, and of Rosmarinus officinalis L., X0728 on human mast cells (HMC-1 Cell Line). Methods: Current-voltage of P2X7 receptors on human mast cell membrane activated by ATP was recorded by the whole-cell patch clamp technique. Results: The current at-100 mV mediated by P2X7was inhibited by (27.6±2.0) % in the presence of 40 μg/mL SCP01 and by (29.5±2.2) % in the presence of 40 μg/mL SCP02, which was identified as α-asarone. 42 μg/mL of the commercially available α-asarone inhibited the P2X7-mediated current by (52.2±2.0) %. In contrast to SCP01 and SCP02, 40μg/mL X0728 provoked stimulation of the current by (28.6±2.8) %. All effects were voltage-independent. Conclusion: The inhibition of P2X7by α-asarone will inhibit intracellular calcium increase and this may account for the inhibition of reported excitotoxic cell death. The pharmacological function of P2X7stimulation by X0728 needs further investigation.