title: 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.affiliation: Research & Development Division, Kikkoman Corporation, Chiba, Japan. myoshimura@mail.kikkoman.co.jp
authors.forename: Mineka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
authors.forename: Tadao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Enomoto
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dake
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okuno
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Akio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Obata
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D047188:Chalcones; D010936:Plant Extracts; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; C027329:naringenin chalcone