An evaluation of the clinical efficacy of tomato extract for perennial allergic rhinitis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Recently, some common foods in daily life have been found to have anti-allergic effects. We have reported that tomato extract (TE) could possibly inhibit histamine release and mouse ear-swelling responses. Moreover, it is reported that TE could relieve the symptoms for Japanese cedar pollinosis.

METHODS:

To evaluate the anti-allergic effect of TE, we performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 33 patients with perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR) using oral administration of TE (360 mg per day) or placebo for 8 weeks.

RESULTS:

We found that the sneezing score significantly decreased in the TE group at the end of the trial compared to the beginning (P < 0.05). There were decreasing tendencies of rhinorrhea and nasal obstruction in the TE group. The patients' quality of life was significantly improved in the TE group after 8 weeks of treatment (P < 0.05), but not in placebo group. A significant improvement in total symptom scores, combining sneezing, rhinorrhea and nasal obstruction, was observed after oral administration of TE for 8 weeks (P < 0.01). The safety of TE treatment was confirmed by laboratory tests and inspection of general conditions.

CONCLUSIONS:

TE can be expected to safely improve the nasal symptoms of PAR.

• Authors: Mineka Yoshimura, Tadao Enomoto, Yoshihiro Dake, Yoshiaki Okuno, Hiroki Ikeda, Lei Cheng, Akio Obata
• Journal: Allergology international : official journal of the Japanese Society of Allergology (Allergol Int) Vol. 56 Issue 3 Pg. 225-30 (Sep 2007) ISSN: 1323-8930 [Print] England
• PMID: 17519582 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Anti-Allergic Agents
• Chalcones
• Plant Extracts
• Immunoglobulin E
• naringenin chalcone

Topics

• Adult
• Anti-Allergic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Chalcones (therapeutic use)
• Double-Blind Method
• Eosinophils (drug effects)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin E (drug effects)
• Solanum lycopersicum
• Male
• Phytotherapy
• Plant Extracts (therapeutic use)
• Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial (drug therapy)
• Sneezing (drug effects)
• Treatment Outcome