An evaluation of the clinical efficacy of tomato extract for perennial allergic rhinitis.
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.
Yoshimura
Mineka
M
Research & Development Division, Kikkoman Corporation, Chiba, Japan. myoshimura@mail.kikkoman.co.jp
Enomoto
Tadao
T
Dake
Yoshihiro
Y
Okuno
Yoshiaki
Y
Ikeda
Hiroki
H
Cheng
Lei
L
Obata
Akio
A
D000328:Adult; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D047188:Chalcones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000187:drug effects; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012912:Sneezing / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D047188:Chalcones; D010936:Plant Extracts; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; C027329:naringenin chalcone