title: The effects of PG102, a water-soluble extract from Actinidia arguta, on serum total IgE levels: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled exploratory clinical study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent studies have reported that blocking IgE has a potentially beneficial role in the treatment of various allergic diseases. Previously, we found that PG102, a water-soluble extract prepared from the edible fruits of Actinidia arguta, can effectively reduce IgE levels using murine models.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of PG102 at lowering levels of total IgE in asymptomatic subjects with atopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 90 asymptomatic subjects with atopy were randomized equally to a PG102 group or a placebo control group and treated for 8 weeks in a double-blind manner. Total serum IgE, eosinophilic cation protein (ECP), eotaxin, thymus, and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC), IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 levels were measured. Eosinophil counts were determined before and after treatment, and results were compared. In addition, possible adverse reactions were thoroughly checked in this first human trial.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Levels of total IgE significantly increased in the control group but showed no change in the PG102 group, and change differences between the control and PG102 groups were significant (+12.9%, vs.-5.7%, p = 0.015). Levels of ECP and eotaxin and eosinophil counts produced similar results. However, the other variables showed no significant changes after treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this exploratory clinical trial, it was found that 8 weeks of treatment with PG102 effectively reduced the levels of total IgE in apparently asymptomatic subjects with atopy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 28 Yongon-Dong, Chongno-Gu, Seoul, 110-744, Korea.
authors.forename: Sae-Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sunyoung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: So-Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Heung-Woo
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Yoon-Seok
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Kyung-Up
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Sang-Heon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D029042:Actinidia / Q000737:chemistry*; D000328:Adult; D054413:Chemokine CCL11 / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D054414:Chemokine CCL17 / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D047150:Eosinophil Cationic Protein / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D054413:Chemokine CCL11; D054414:Chemokine CCL17; D018793:Interleukin-13; D015848:Interleukin-5; C519390:PG102E extract; C519391:PG102T extract; D010936:Plant Extracts; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D047150:Eosinophil Cationic Protein