Evaluation on efficacy of modern medicine ketotifen using traditional delivery science acupuncture in allergic animal models

Pharmaceutical acupuncture (PA) is a traditional oriental therapeutic technique that combines acupuncture with herbal medicine. We investigated the effect of mast cell stabilizer, ketotifen PA to efficiently and safely regulate various allergic reactions. Ketotifen was administered through PA on the ST36 acupoint in allergic animal models. Ketotifen PA significantly decreased compound 48/80-induced mortality, histamine release, and ear swelling. Ketotifen significantly reduced the level of intracellular Ca²⁺ increased by compound 48/80 in human mast cell line, HMC-1 cells. Compared to oral administration, ketotifen PA significantly suppressed the dye effusion on passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA). The level of IL-1β was significantly decreased by ketotifen PA in sera after PCA. Ketotifen also significantly inhibited IL-1β production and mRNA expression through the regulation of caspase-1 and nuclear factor-κB activation in HMC-1 cells. In conclusion, we found that ketotifen PA was more effective than oral administration and may serve as a new and useful therapy.