Download PDF
Planta Med 2012; 78(4): 334-340
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1280455
Biological and Pharmacological Activity
Original Papers
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

In Vitro Antiallergic Effects of Aqueous Fermented Preparations from Citrus and Cydonia fruits

Roman Huber1 , Florian Conrad Stintzing2 , Daniel Briemle2 , Christiane Beckmann2 , Ulrich Meyer2 , Carsten Gründemann1
  • 1Center for Complementary Medicine, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
  • 2WALA Heilmittel GmbH, Bad Boll/Eckwälden, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

received August 11, 2011 revised Nov. 14, 2011

accepted Nov. 27, 2011

Publication Date:
22 December 2011 (online)

Also available at
   Permissions and Reprints
Preview

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the immunomodulatory and antiallergic properties of preparations from lemon, Citrus medica L. (Citrus), and quince, Cydonia oblonga Mill. (Cydonia), which are used in pharmaceutical products to treat patients suffering from allergic disorders. Preparations were analyzed with respect to their impact on the degranulation capacity from basophilic cells as well as mediator release from activated human mast cells in vitro, including IL-8 and TNF-α secretion. The results show that the degranulation of basophilic cells was diminished only in the presence of Citrus, and this effect was compared to the synthetic drug azelastine. Furthermore, Citrus and Cydonia both inhibited the production of IL-8 and TNF-α from human mast cells, and at low concentrations additive effects were observed. As a positive inhibition control, dexamethasone was used. LC-MS analyses showed that the major phenolic components in extracts from Citrus and Cydonia are eriocitrin and neochlorogenic acid, respectively. Nevertheless, these compounds do not show biological effects at concentration levels detected in their corresponding extracts. In conclusion, the present data provide a rational base for the use of the single pharmaceutical preparations from Citrus and Cydonia in a differentiated treatment of allergic disorders in part by the regulation of soluble allergic mediators from basophilic cells and mast cells.

Key words

Citrus medica - Rutaceae - Cydonia oblonga - Rosaceae - allergy - phenolics - anthroposophical medicine

Supporting Information

References

  • 1 Pearlman D S. Pathophysiology of the inflammatory response.  J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1999;  104 132-137
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 2 Gould H J, Sutton B J. IgE in allergy and asthma today.  Nat Rev Immunol. 2008;  8 205-217
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 3 Greiner A N, Meltzer E O. Pharmacologic rationale for treating allergic and nonallergic rhinitis.  J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2006;  118 985-996
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 4 Juniper E F, Stahl E, Doty R L, Simons F E, Allen D B, Howarth P H. Clinical outcomes and adverse effect monitoring in allergic rhinitis.  J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2005;  115 390-413
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 5 Mainardi T, Kapoor S, Bielory L. Complementary and alternative medicine: herbs, phytochemicals and vitamins and their immunologic effects.  J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2009;  123 283-294
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 6 Rother C, Oexle J. Untersuchung zur Ermittlung des Anwendungsnutzens von Weleda Heuschnupfenspray unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Wirkungsdynamik. Ergebnisse einer prospektiven Beobachtungsstudie.  Der Merkurstab/J Anthroposophic Med. 2008;  61 167-171
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 7 Baars E W, Savelkoul H F J. Citrus/Cydonia comp. can restore the immunological balance in seasonal allergic rhinitis-related immunological parameters in vitro.  Mediators Inflamm. 2008;  DOI: 10.1155/2008/496467
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 8 Gründemann C, Papagiannopolous M, Lamy M, Mersch-Sundermann M, Huber R. Immunomodulatory properties of a lemon-quince preparation (Gencydo®) as an indicator of antiallergic potency.  Phytomedicine. 2011;  18 760-768
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 9 German Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia (GHP). including 7th Supplement, Volume 1 and 2. Stuttgart: Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices BfArM; 2010
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 10 Rivera J, Gilfillan A M. Molecular regulation of mast cell activation.  J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2006;  117 1214-1225
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 11 Galli S J, Kalesnikoff J, Grimbaldeston M A, Piliponsky A M, Williams C M M, Tsai M. Mast cells as “tunable” effector and immunoregulatory cells: recent advances.  Annu Rev Immunol. 2005;  23 749-786
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 12 Park H H, Lee S, Son H Y, Park S B, Kim M S, Choi E J, Singh T S K, Ha J H, Lee M G, Kim J E, Hynn M C, Kwon T K, Kim K H, Kim S H. Flavonoids inhibit histamine release and expression of proinflammatory cytokines in mast cells.  Arch Pharm Res. 2008;  31 1303-1311
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 13 Shinomiya F, Hamauzu Y, Kawahara T. Anti-allergic effect of a hot-water extract of quince (Cydonia oblonga).  Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2009;  73 1773-1778
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 14 Kawahara T, Iizuka T. Inhibitory effect of hot-water extract of quince (Cydonia oblonga) on immunoglobulin-dependent late-phase immune reactions of mast cells.  Cytotechnology. 2011;  63 143-152
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 15 Hide I, Toriu N, Nuibe T, Inoue A, Hide M, Yamamoto S, Nakata Y. Suppression of TNF-alpha secretion by azelastine in a rat mast (RBL-2H3) cell line – evidence for differential regulation of TNF-alpha release, transcription, and degranulation.  J Immunol. 1997;  159 2932-2940
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 16 Silva B M, Andrade P B, Ferreres F, Domingues A L, Seabra R M, Ferreira M A. Phenolic profile of quince fruit (Cydonia oblonga Miller) (pulp and peel).  J Agric Food Chem. 2002;  50 4615-4618
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 17 Silva B M, Andrade P B, Gonçalves A C, Seabra R M, Oliveira M B, Ferreira M A. Influence of jam processing upon the contents of phenolics, organic acids and free amino acids in quince fruit (Cydonia oblonga Miller).  Eur Food Res Technol. 2004;  218 385-389
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 18 Silva B M, Andrade P B, Martins R C, Valentão P, Ferreres F, Seabra R M, Ferreira M A. Quince (Cydonia oblonga Miller) fruit characterization using principal component analysis.  J Agric Food Chem. 2005;  53 111-122
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 19 Hamauzu Y, Yasui H, Inno T, Kume C, Omanyuda M. Phenolic profile, antioxidant property, and anti-influenza viral activity of Chinese quince (Pseudocydonia sinensis Schneid.), quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.), and apple (Malus domestica Mill.) fruits.  J Agric Food Chem. 2005;  53 928-934
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 20 Alesiani D, Canini A, d'Abrosca B, DellaGreca M, Fiorentino A, Mastellone C, Monaco P, Pacifico S. Antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of phytochemicals from quince (Cydonia vulgaris) peels.  Food Chem. 2010;  118 199-207
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 21 Fiorentino A, D'Abrosca B, Pacifico S, Mastelone C, Piscopo V, Caputo R, Monaco P. Isolation and structure elucidation of antioxidant polyphenols from quince (Cydonia vulgaris) peels.  J Agric Food Chem. 2008;  56 2660-2667
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 22 Caristi C, Bellocco E, Garguilli C, Toscano G, Leuzi U. Flavone-di-C-glycosides in citrus juices from Southern Italy.  Food Chem. 2005;  95 431-437
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 23 Manthey J A, Grohmann K. Phenols in Citrus peel byproducts. Concentration of hydroxycinnamates and polymethoxylated flavones in citrus peel molasses.  J Agric Food Chem. 2001;  49 3268-3273
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 24 Sun Y, Wang J, Gu S, Liu Z, Zhang Y, Zhang X. Simultaneous determination of flavonoids in different parts of Citrus reticulata ‘Chachi fruit by high performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array detection.  Molecules. 2010;  15 5378-5388
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 25 Ho S C, Lin C C. Investigation of heat treating conditions for enhancing the anti-inflammatory activity of Citrus fruit (Citrus reticulata) peels.  J Agric Food Chem. 2008;  56 7976-7982
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 26 Belajová E, Suhaj M. Determination of phenolic constituents in citrus juices: Method for high performance liquid chromatography.  Food Chem. 2004;  86 339-343
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 27 Jang H D, Chang K S, Chang T C, Hsu C L. Antioxidant potentials of buntan pumelo (Citrus grandis Osbeck) and its ethanolic and acetified fermentation products.  Food Chem. 2010;  118 554-558
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 28 Xu G, Liu D, Chen J, Ye X, Shi J. Composition of major flavanone glycosides and antioxidant capacity of three Citrus varieties.  J Food Biochem. 2009;  33 453-469
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 29 Ramful D, Bahorun T, Bourdon E, Tarnus E, Aruoma O I. Bioactive phenolics and antioxidant prospensity of flavedo extracts of Mauritian citrus fruits: potential prophylactic ingredients for functional food applications.  Toxicology. 2010;  278 75-87
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 30 Lorenz P, Conrad J, Bertrams J, Berger M, Duckstein S, Meyer U, Stintzing F C. Investigations into the phenolic constituents of dog's mercury (Mercurialis perennis L.) by LC-MS/MS and GC-MS analyses.  Phytochem Anal. 2012;  23 60-71
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 31 McKay D L, Blumberg J B. A review of the bioactivity and potential health benefits of peppermint tea (Mentha piperita L.).  Phytother Res. 2006;  20 619-633
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 32 Takahashi A, Nakata K. Anti-inflammatory effects of peppermint.  Aromatopia. 1995;  13 42-45
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 33 Huang F H, Zhang X Y, Zhang L Y, Li Q, Ni B, Zheng X L, Chen A J. Mast cell degranulation induced by chlorogenic acid.  Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2010;  31 849-854
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 34 Kimura Y, Okuda H, Okuda T, Hatano T, Agata I, Arichi S. Studies on the activities of tannins and related compounds from medicinal plants and drugs. VI. Inhibitory effects of caffeoylquinic acids on histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells.  Chem Pharm Bull. 1985;  33 690-696
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 35 Qin H D, Shi Y Q, Liu Z H, Li Z G, Wang H S, Wang H, Liu Z P. Effect of chlorogenic acid on mast cell-dependent anaphylactic reaction.  Int Immunopharmacol. 2010;  10 1135-1141
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 36 Kim H R, Lee D M, Lee S H, Seong A R, Gin D W, Hwang J A, Park J H. Chlorogenic acid suppresses pulmonary eosinophilia, IgE production, and Th2-type cytokine production in an ovalbumin-induced allergic asthma: activation of STAT-6 and JNK are inhibited by chlorogenic acid.  Int Immunopharmacol. 2010;  10 1242-1248
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 37 Chen S S, Gong J, Liu F T, Mohammed U. Naturally occuring polyphenolic antioxidants modulate IgE-mediated mast cell activation.  Immunology. 2000;  100 471-480
    Search in Google Scholar

Carsten Gründemann

Center for Complementary Medicine
Department of Environmental Health Sciences
University Medical Center Freiburg

Breisacher Str. 115B

79106 Freiburg

Germany

Phone: +49 7 61 27 08 32 20

Fax: +49 7 61 27 08 32 30

Email: carsten.gruendemann@uniklinik-freiburg.de