Paeonol reduces the number of mast cells in the dermis, and the concentration of IgE and inflammatory cytokines in the serum. (A) Mast cell infiltration in the dorsal skin was determined using toluidine blue staining (magnification, ×200; scale bar, 50 µm). Red arrows indicate the stained mast cells. (B) Mast cell counts in the different groups. Serum levels of (C) IgE, and the inflammatory cytokines (D) IL-4 and (E) histamine in the different groups, as measured using an ELISA. Data are presented as the means ± standard deviation (n=8). *P<0.05, **P<0.01 vs. the control group; #P<0.05, ##P<0.01 vs. the model group. IgE, immunoglobulin E; IL-4, interleukin-4; Pae-H, paeonol-high (200 mg/kg); Pae-L, paeonol-low (50 mg/kg); Pae-M, paeonol-medium (100 mg/kg); Pred, prednisolone.