RESUMEN
Objective: To investigate the effects and underlying mechanism of polysaccharides from Radix Saplshnikoviae on the immune factors in rats with allergic rhinitis induced by OVA.Methods: Firstly, 0.3mg OVA, 30mg Al(OH)3 and 1ml saline were mixed and intraperitoneally injected for the initial immunization, and then 200μg OVA (4%) was given once a day by nasal dripping since the 15th day for the second immunization to establish the allergic rhinitis model.Fifty SD rats were randomly divided into the allergic rhinitis (AR) model group, the polysaccharides from Radix Saplshnikoviae (600 mg·kg-1, 300mg·kg-1, 150 mg·kg-1) groups, the positive (Biyankang, 400 mg·kg-1) group and the normal control group.After the 14-day intragastric administration, blood was collected from abdominal aorta and serum was obtained.The levels of immune factors and inflammatory factors in serum were examined by radioimmunoassay.Results: The positive group and the polysaccharide groups could inhibit the typical symptoms of allergic rhinitis including sneezing, nasal scratching and running nose in varying degrees, and alleviate the inflammatory reaction symptoms.After the drug intervention, the positive group and the polysaccharide groups could down-regulate the expression of immune cell factors IL-4, TNF-A, VCAM-1 and IL-5, enhance IL-12 and INF-γ expression levels, and suppress the generation and release of inflammation factors IgE, HA, LTC4 and PGD2, and the differences were significant when compared with the model group (P＜0.05).The dose-effect relationship was not too obvious among the polysaccharide from Radix Saposhnikoviae groups respectively at high, medium and low dose, and the high dose group was best among them.Conclusion: The polysaccharides from Radix Saplshnikoviae exhibit curative effect for AR, which can down-regulate the serum levels of IL-4 and IL-5, up-regulate the serum levels of IFN-γ and IL-12, adjust Th1/Th2 lymphocyte subsets balance and body immune response and reduce nasal mucosa allergic inflammation, and the underlying mechanism may be related with reducing the generation and release of immune factors in AR induced by OVA.