Abstract
The effects of oral ingestion of a hot water extract of prune (Prunus domestica L.) fruit on allergic responses were investigated in mite-sensitized BALB/c mice. The number of sneezing events in mice given the extract-added diet was significantly lower than in mice given the extract-free diet. Serum mite allergen-specific immunoglobulin E levels were significantly lower in mice given the extract-added diet than in mice given the extract-free diet. In contrast, the ratio of splenic IFN-γ+CD4+ cells/IL-4+CD4+ cells was higher in mice given the extract-added diet. Expression levels of Stat6, Btk and Stim1 mRNAs in spleen cells of mice given the extract-added diet were significantly lower than in mice given the extract-free diet. These results suggest that the prune extract may reduce type I allergic symptoms in mice via the adjustment of type 1 helper T cell/type 2 helper T cell balance and the suppression of mast cell degranulation.
