The purpose of this review, based on studies from our laboratory as well as from others, is to summarize salient features of mast cell immunobiology and to describe their associations with gastrointestinal mucosal defense. Gastrointestinal mast cells are involved in many pathologic effects, such as food hypersensitivity. On the other hand, they also play a protective role in defense against par...

Curcumin, the active component of turmeric, is a polyphenolic phytochemical with anti-tumor, antiinflammatory, anti-oxidative and anti-allergic properties. Mast cells participate in allergic inflammation by virtue of their ability of being activated to allergens and lead to the release of number of biologically active mediators including histamine, prostaglandins, leukotrienes, various cytokine...

It has been established that Picralima nitida has antitussive effect. This study therefore aimed at determining the possible mode of antitussive and expectorant activity of an ethanolic seed extract of P. nitida (PNE). The muco-suppressant, mast cell stabilization, and the anxiolytic effects of PNE were ascertained using ammonium chloride-induced phenol red secretion in BALB/c mice; compound 48...

Objective: This work was mainly aimed to study the anti-anaphylactic, mast cell stabilizing and antiasthmatic activity of AHR-1 (a polyherbal formulation) which contain various herbal extracts. Methods: The antianaphylactic activity of AHR-1 was evaluated in rats using active anaphylaxis model.Rats were then observed for onset of symptoms of anaphylaxis reaction such as increased respiratory ra...

Processed antigen reacts selectively with lymphocytes bearing .appropriate surface immunoglobulin molecules resulting in the clonal proliferation of these cells, produc­ing circulating immunoglobulin (humoral immunity) or non-circulating immunoglobulins (cellular immunity).  High levels of circulating immunoglobulins (lgM & lgG) occur in protozoa and helminths infections. Reaginic antibodies a...

In the present work the effect of quercetin obtained from (Allium cepa). Albizzia lebbek (crude extract of seeds) and a pure saponin fraction of Albizzia has been studied on the mast cells in the mesentery and peritoneal fluid of rats subjected to anaphylaxis. The results show a mast cell membrane stabilizing effect of these test drugs.

There is abundant evidence that mast cells are active participants in events that mediate tissue damage in autoimmune disease. Disease-associated increases in mast cell numbers accompanied by mast cell degranulation and elaboration of numerous mast cell mediators at sites of inflammation are commonly observed in many human autoimmune diseases including multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, ...

Galectin (Gal)-9 was first described as an eosinophil chemoattractant. With the progress in research, Gal-9 has come to be known as a versatile immunomodulator that is involved in various aspects of immune regulations, and the entire picture of the function still remains elusive. To uncover as-yet unknown activity of Gal-9, we have been examining the effect of the protein in various disease ani...