Study on the immunotoxicity and mechanism of Carthamus tinctorius extract on RBL-2H3 cells
- VernacularTitle:红花提取物对RBL-2H3细胞的免疫毒性及机制研究
- Author:
Silan WU
1
;
Xiaoli MEI
1
;
Jinping LUO
1
;
Li ZHANG
1
;
Sixing HUANG
1
;
Chonggang HUANG
1
Author Information
1. Institute of pharmacology and Toxicology of Traditional Chinese Medicine，Chongqing Academy of Chinese Materia Medica/ Third Grade Laboratory of Pharmacology of Chinese Materia Medica，National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine，Chongqing 400065，China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Carthamus tinctorius extract;
mast cells;
RBL-2H3;
degranulation;
immunotoxicity
- From:
China Pharmacy
2026;37(8):1003-1008
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE To investigate the immunotoxicity and potential mechanism of Carthamus tinctorius extract on RBL-2H3 cells via direct induction and induction by sensitized serum prepared with an overdose of the extract. METHODS For direct induction by C. tinctorius extract， RBL-2H3 cells were divided into normal control group （no treatment） and C. tinctorius extract group （10 mg/mL）. For induction by sensitized serum prepared with an overdose of C. tinctorius extract， rats were divided into normal control group （no treatment）， adjuvant-treated group （1 mL adjuvant）， C. tinctorius extract-induced sensitization group （2.04 g/mL）， and ovalbumin （OVA）-induced sensitization group （50 mg/mL）. Sensitization was performed once every other day for a total of 3 times. Morphological changes of RBL-2H3 cells were observed， the degranulated rate of cells was counted， and histamine content was determined； the release rate of β -hexosaminidase （ β -Hex） was calculated， the levels of interleukin-6 （IL-6） and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） and intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration were detected. RESULTS Under direct induction by C. tinctorius extract， compared with the normal control group， the volume of cells in the C. tinctorius extract group was significantly reduced and cell density decreased； the degranulation rate of cells， histamine content， β -Hex release rate， IL-6 and TNF-α levels， as well as intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration were all significantly increased （ P ＜0.01）. Under i nduction by sensitized serum prepared with an overdose of C. tinctorius extract， compared with the adjuvant-treated group， the above indicators in the C. tinctorius extract-induced sensitization group and the OVA-induced sensitization group showed consistent changes with those in the C. tinctorius extract group under direct induction， all being significantly elevated （ P ＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS C. tinctorius extract may affect degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells and promote Ca²⁺ influx accompanied by the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines through two approaches： direct induction and induction by sensitized serum prepared under overdose administration. Its mechanism may be related to the activation of the calcium signaling pathway and the regulation of inflammatory pathways under the synergistic effect of multiple components.
