The discovery of drugs for the treatment of mast cell-mediated allergic disease is a very important subject in human health. The Amomum xanthiodes (Zingiberaceae) has been used for centuries as a traditional medicine in Korea and is known to have an anti-inflammatory effect. However, its specific mechanism of action is still unknown. In this report, we investigated the effect of hot water extract from Amomum xanthiodes (EAX) on the mast cell-mediated allergic reaction and studied its possible mechanisms of action. EAX inhibited compound 48/80-induced systemic anaphylaxis and serum histamine release in mice. EAX decreased the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction activated by anti-dinitrophenyl (DNP) IgE antibody. EAX dose-dependently reduced histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells activated by compound 48/80 or anti-DNP IgE. EAX increased cAMP and decreased compound 48/80-induced intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ levels. Our findings provide evidence that EAX inhibits mast cell-derived allergic reactions, and also demonstrate the involvement of cAMP and intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ in these effects.
