Green Tea Extract Blocks Allergic Reaction In Vitro

Green Tea Extract Blocks Allergic Reaction In Vitro

FUKUOKA, Japan--A component of green tea may haveapplication in suppressing allergic reactions, according to a study in the Sept.25 issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (50,20:5729-34, 2002) (http://pubs.acs.org/journals/jafcau).Researchers from Kyushu University previously found that the O-methylatedderivative of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG) has potent anti-allergicactivity. To further study this correlation, researchers treated human basophils(immune cells that release antibodies, thereby triggering allergic reactions)with the methylated form of EGCG. Treatment decreased the cells' surfaceexpression of FcepsilonRI, which is found in high levels on basophils and mastcells (which release histamine and exacerbate allergic reactions) and plays akey role in a series of acute and chronic human allergic reactions. Researchersconcluded that EGCG inhibited FcepsilonRI cross-linking-induced histaminerelease, suggesting the extract may negatively regulate basophil activation bysuppressing FcepsilonRI expression.