Effect of Lo Han Kuo (Siraitia grosvenori Swingle) on nasal rubbing and scratching behavior in ICR mice.

We studied the effect of Lo Han Kuo (Siraitia grosvenori Swingle) on histamine-induced nasal rubbing and compound 48/80-induced skin scratching behavior in ICR mice. An extract and glycoside (a complex of sweet components) of Lo Han Kuo were used in the study. Both the extract and glycoside caused no significant effect on nasal rubbing or scratching behavior, even at a dose of 1000 mg/kg when administered in a single dose. However, the effect of Lo Han Kuo became clear after repeated administration, and 300 and 1000 mg/kg of both extract and glycoside significantly inhibited nasal rubbing and skin scratching behavior after consecutive treatment for 4 weeks. Both the extract and glycoside inhibited the histamine release induced by compound 48/80 at concentrations of 300 and 1000 microg/ml. From these results, it is assumed that the inhibition of nasal rubbing and skin scratching behavior induced by Lo Han Kuo occurs through a mast cell-dependent mechanism.