AIM: To investigate the immunosuppression of artemisinin in the early-phase response(EPR)of allergic conjunctivitis in a murine model induced by pollen.

METHODS: Twenty-five Balb/c mice were divided into five groups at random: A: model group, B: artemisinin topical treatment group, C: oral artemisinin group, D: dexamethasone topical treatment group, E: negative control group. Balb/c mice were first sensitized with mixture of ragweed crude extract and complete Freund's adjuvant by left footpad and root of tails injection at days 0. At days 7 and 14, mice were strengthen sensitized by intraperitoneal injection. Negative control group replacd with a mixture of equal amounts of Freund's adjuvant and PBS mixture. Treatment time was between 21-27d: group B received 1% topical artemisinin eye drops 4 times per day; group C received artemisinin at doses of 600mg/kg orally once per day; group D received topical dexamethasone eye drops 4 times per day. The model and naive groups replaced with solvent for control. After treatment, mice were excited by ragweed pollen crude infusion drops. Within 1h after the excitation, the eyes were taken for histopathology testing, the serum for detection of specific IgE for ragweed pollen.

RESULTS: After excitation, allergy symptoms of model group were more significantly compared with negative control group and the treatment groups; allergy symptom score, mast cell degranulation ratios and the ragweed pollen specific IgE in serum in the topical treatment groups and oral group were higher than that in the negative control group, but significantly lower than that in model group.

CONCLUSION: Artemisinin topical treatment and oral treatment for mice could inhibit the symptoms of pollen allergic conjunctivitis, early-phase response of mast cell degranulation ratio and specific IgE generation for ragweed pollen, suggesting that artemisinin has some therapeutic effect for pollen allergic conjunctivitis.