title: Effects of Echium plantagineum L. bee pollen on basophil degranulation: relationship with metabolic profile.
abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the anti-allergic potential of Echium plantagineum L. bee pollen and to characterize its primary metabolites. The activity of E. plantagineum hydromethanolic extract, devoid of alkaloids, was tested against β-hexosaminidase release in rat basophilic leukemic cells (RBL-2H3). Two different stimuli were used: calcium ionophore A23187 and IgE/antigen. Lipoxygenase inhibitory activity was evaluated in a cell-free system using soybean lipoxygenase. Additionally, the extract was analysed by HPLC-UV for organic acids and by GC-IT/MS for fatty acids. In RBL-2H3 cells stimulated either with calcium ionophore or IgE/antigen, the hydromethanolic extract significantly decreased β-hexosaminidase release until the concentration of 2.08 mg/mL, without compromising cellular viability. No effect was found on lipoxygenase. Concerning extract composition, eight organic acids and five fatty acids were determined for the first time. Malonic acid (80%) and α-linolenic acid (27%) were the main compounds in each class. Overall, this study shows promising results, substantiating for the first time the utility of intake of E. plantagineum bee pollen to prevent allergy and ameliorate allergy symptoms, although a potentiation of an allergic response can occur, depending on the dose used.
authors: REQUIMTE/Laboratório de Farmacognosia, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira nº 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal. emoita07@hotmail.com.
authors: Eduarda
authors: E
authors: Moita
authors: REQUIMTE/Laboratório de Farmacognosia, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira nº 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal. csousa@ff.up.pt.
authors: Carla
authors: C
authors: Sousa
authors: REQUIMTE/Laboratório de Farmacognosia, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira nº 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal. pandrade@ff.up.pt.
authors: Paula B
authors: PB
authors: Andrade
authors: REQUIMTE/Laboratório de Farmacognosia, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira nº 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal. mfgfernandes@gmail.com.
authors: Fátima
authors: F
authors: Fernandes
authors: REQUIMTE/Laboratório de Farmacognosia, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira nº 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal. brigidarpinho@gmail.com.
authors: Brígida R
authors: BR
authors: Pinho
authors: REQUIMTE/Laboratório de Farmacognosia, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira nº 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal. lmsilva@ff.up.pt.
authors: Luís R
authors: LR
authors: Silva
authors: REQUIMTE/Laboratório de Farmacognosia, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira nº 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal. valentao@ff.up.pt.
authors: Patrícia
authors: P
authors: Valentão
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D001491:Basophils / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015550:Cell Degranulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D036661:Echium / Q000737:chemistry*; D008084:Lipoxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011058:Pollen / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D013025:Glycine max / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D010940:Plant Proteins; D008084:Lipoxygenase