Effects of Citrus unshiu Powder on the Cytokine Balance in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Patients with Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis to Pollen

Soichi TANABE; Yuki KINUTA; Hatsumi YASUMATSU; Masayoshi TAKAYANAGI; Shoko KOBAYASHI; Naondo TAKIDO; Masanori SUGIYAMA

doi:10.1271/bbb.70397

Food & Nutrition Science Note

Effects of Citrus unshiu Powder on the Cytokine Balance in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Patients with Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis to Pollen

Soichi TANABE, Yuki KINUTA, Hatsumi YASUMATSU, Masayoshi TAKAYANAGI, Shoko KOBAYASHI, Naondo TAKIDO, Masanori SUGIYAMA

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Keywords: anti-allergic effect, rhinitis to pollen, Citrus unshiu, cytokine, PBMC

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2007 Volume 71 Issue 11 Pages 2852-2855

DOI https://doi.org/10.1271/bbb.70397

View "Advance Publication" version (November 7, 2007).

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Abstract

We evaluated the effects of a 50% methanol extract of Citrus unshiu powder (MEC) on cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis to cedar pollen. The levels of cytokines, such as TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-12 (p70), IL-13, and GM-CSF, produced by pollen-stimulated PBMC were measured. We found that MEC suppressed pollen-induced TNF-α release and increased IFN-γ release from PBMCs. The results suggest that Citrus unshiu powder has an immunomodulatory effect in vitro and that its use could improve seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms.

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