2007 Volume 54 Issue 2 Pages 61-66
The effect of fermented barley extract (FBE) on experimental allergic rhinitis was investigated. FBE was fed (2% in diet) to sensitized mice for 5 weeks. FBE significantly inhibited nasal symptoms (sneezing and nasal rubbing) and reduced the level of antigen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) in serum. In addition, FBE reduced production of interleukin-4 (IL-4), a Th2-type cytokine, from the spleen cells of sensitized mice. In contrast, oral administration of FBE increased the production of interleukin-12 (IL-12) from the spleen cells of normal mice. These results suggest that FBE possesses anti-allergic effects and that its mechanism is related to suppression of differentiation in Th2-type cells.
