Anti-allergic effects of peppermint oil, chicle and jelutong

Anti-allergic effects of constituents of chewing gum were investigated in Type I allergic reactions. The results were as follows.Oral administration of 1, 8-cineole and n-BuOH extract of jelutong (J-4), a natural resin of Dyera costulata Hook. f., inhibited homologous passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) mediated by IgE antibody in guinea pigs. Peppermint oil, l-menthol, 1, 8-cineole, J-4 and n-BuOH extract of chicle (C-4) from Achras zapota L suppressed PCA when intraperitoneally injected. Further investigation on the above constituents showed that l-menthol, menthone, 1, 8-cineole and C-4 suppressed antigen-induced histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells. In the Schultz-Dale reaction, some of them suppressed smooth muscle contraction induced by either histamine or serotonin.From these results, it is concluded that these constituents of chewing gum have antiallergic effects.