The methanol extract of the aerial portion suppresses allergic responses in rat basophilic leukemia cell line (RBL-2H3) through inhibition of compound 48/80-induced degranulation, antigen-induced β-hexosaminidase release and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate plus A23187-induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α production [8]. This evidence concerns the gene TNF and leukemia.