Antipruritic effect of Cnidii Monnieri Fructus (fruits of Cnidium monnieri CUSSON).

Antipruritic effects of 70% ethanol extract (CM-ext) of Cnidii Monnieri Fructus (dried fruits of Cnidium monnieri CUSSON, Umberifferae) were investigated. In mice, an oral administration of CM-ext (200 and 500 mg/kg) inhibited compound 48/80-induced scratching behavior without influence on spontaneous locomotion. Isopimpinellin (3) and osthol (1), coumarin derivatives isolated from CM-ext, showed an inhibitory effect on compound 48/80-induced scratching behavior.