Cutaneous and systemic anti-allergic potential of xylopic acid in rodents

Xylopic acid is a kaurene diterpene isolated from the dried fruit of Xylopia aethiopica. It has been identified to exhibit analgesic activity and also demonstrates acute and chronic anti-inflammatory activity. This study aimed at investigating its potential anti-allergic activity using rodent models. To investigate this, antihistaminic study using guinea pig ileum preparation and clonidine-induced catalepsy model were employed. Also, cutaneous anaphylaxis was investigated using pinnal inflammation and compound 48/80-induced cutaneous anaphylaxis models. Systemic anaphylaxis was studied using compound 48/80 systemic anaphylaxis and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced septic shock models. XA exerted H-1 antagonism in the ex vivo study using guinea pig ileum which supported its anti-histaminic activity in the clonidine-induced catalepsy. It also suppressed pinnal inflammation and inhibited mast cell degranulation and tissue damage significantly (P < 0.0001). In the systemic anaphylactic study, XA offered up to 90% survival rate in the compound 48/80-challenged mice and up to 70% protection against LPS-induced endotoxic shock at the studied doses. Xylopic acid showed histamine H-1 receptor antagonism and subsequently inhibited clonidine-induced catalepsy. It inhibited passive cutaneous anaphylaxis, compound 48/80-induced anaphylaxis and the LPS-induced septic shock. These corroborate the cutaneous and systemic anti-allergic potential of XA in rodent allergy models.

Automated summary

Xylopic acid, a kaurene diterpene derived from the dried fruit of Xylopia aethiopica, demonstrates anti-inflammatory, antihistaminic, and analgesic activities. Studies reveal its significant anti-allergic effects in rodent models, inhibiting both systemic and cutaneous allergic reactions.