Orally administrated Lactobacillus gasseri TMC0356 and Lactobacillus GG alleviated nasal blockage of guinea pig with allergic rhinitis

Lactobacillus GG (LGG) and L. gasseri TMC0356 (TMC0356) were investigated for their ability to alleviate nasal blockage associated with allergic rhinitis using a guinea pig model. The increases in sRaw at 10 min and 5 hr after the exposure of the nasal mucosa to OVA were significantly alleviated in the guinea pigs orally administrated with LGG and TMC0356 compared with those of the control (P<0.05 and P<0.01). The total numbers of leukocytes, particularly eosinophils and neutrophils from the nasal cavity lavage fluid, and the OVA-specific IgE concentration in the serum were also decreased in the guinea pigs orally administrated with LGG and TMC0356, although the decreases were not statistically significant. These results suggest that LGG and TMC0356 can alleviate antigen-induced nasal blockage in earlyphase and late-phase inflammatory responses associated with allergic rhinitis.     

Efficacy of Oral Administration of a Heat-Killed Lactobacillus gasseri OLL2809 on Patients of Japanese Cedar Pollinosis with High Japanese-Cedar Pollen-Specific IgE

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted to determine whether oral administration of heat-killed Lactobacillus gasseri OLL2809 would affect the immune response and reduce the symptoms of Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCP) in subjects with JCP. Following a 1-week pre-observation period, the subjects were randomly divided into two groups and were orally administered a placebo or tablets containing 100 mg of L. gasseri OLL2809 per d for 8 weeks during the pollen season in 2007. The results showed no obvious differences between the groups. Supplementary subgroup analysis revealed that the OLL2809 subgroups with CAP-RAST scores of 4 or 5 exhibited improvement in nasal symptoms scores and serum allergy-related items, including Japanese cedar pollen-specific IgE levels. L. gasseri OLL2809 was found to be effective in reducing symptoms in subjects with a high predisposition to allergies by modulating systemic immune systems.     

Fructus Amomi extract attenuates nasal inflammation by restoring Th1/Th2 balance and down-regulation of NF-κB phosphorylation in OVA-induced allergic rhinitis

Fructus Amomi Cardamomi (FA) is the mature fruit of Amomum villosum Lour (family Zingiberaceae) and is commonly used in Chinese traditional medicine to treat various gastrointestinal disorders. FA’s possible benefits as an allergic rhinitis (AR) treatment, however, have not been examined. We used an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced AR mouse model to identify any anti-allergic effects associated with the administration of 200 mg/kg FA or dexamethasone (Dex) 2.5 mg/kg by oral administration. The results of our testing confirm that FA ameliorated nasal symptoms and alleviated nasal epithelium swelling, reduced the goblet cell hyperplasia and eosinophil cell infiltration in the nasal epithelium, and inhibited lung tissue inflammation and Dex as well. Significantly decreased Th2 cytokine (interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4, and IL-5) expression, and a correspondingly significant increase in Th1 cytokine (IL-12, interferon (IFN)-γ) production, was observed in nasal lavage fluid (NALF) taken from mice that received FA or Dex treatment. FA also reduced the presence of OVA-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E, OVA-specific IgG₁, and histamine levels in serum, and inhibited mast cell degranulation in vitro. In addition, these effects were involved with the reduction in NF-κB phosphorylation. These results suggest that FA restores Th1/Th2 balance and inhibits NF-κB phosphorylation and mast cell degranulation, thereby achieving a notable anti-inflammatory effect. Accordingly, it has the potential to be used as an efficacious therapeutic treatment for AR.