Abstract
BackgroundArecae semen, the dried slice of areca nuts, is a traditional Chinese medicine used to treat intestinal parasitosis, rectal tenesmus and diarrhea. Areca nuts contain a rich amount of polyphenols that have been shown to modulate the functionality of mast cells and T cells. The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of polyphenol-enriched areca nut extracts (PANE) against food allergy, a T cell-mediated immune disorder.MethodsBALB/c mice were left untreated or administered with PANE (0.05% and 0.1%) via drinking water throughout the entire experiment. The mice were sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA) twice by intraperitoneal injection, and then repeatedly challenged with OVA by gavage to induce food allergic responses.ResultsPANE administration attenuated OVA-induced allergic responses, including the occurrence of diarrhea and the infiltration and degranulation of mast cells in the duodenum. The serum level of OVA-specific IgE and the expression of interleukin-4 in the duodenum were suppressed by PANE treatment. In addition, PANE administration induced Gr-1+, IL-10+ and Gr-1+IL-10+ cells in the duodenum.ConclusionThese results demonstrate that oral intake of areca-derived polyphenols attenuates food allergic responses accompanied with a decreased Th2 immunity and an enhanced induction of functional myeloid-derived suppressor cells.
Highlights
Arecae semen, the dried slice of areca nuts, is a traditional Chinese medicine used to treat intestinal parasitosis, rectal tenesmus and diarrhea
polyphenol-enriched areca nut extracts (PANE) did not affect body weight, and the spleen index and cellularity We firstly investigated whether administration of PANE via drinking water influenced the spleen index and cellularity in mice with food allergy
As areca nuts contain a rich amount of polyphenols which have been documented to possess immunomodulatory and anti-allergic properties [8,9], the present study aims to investigate the potential effect of areca polyphenols on food allergy
Summary
The dried slice of areca nuts, is a traditional Chinese medicine used to treat intestinal parasitosis, rectal tenesmus and diarrhea. Dried areca nuts, including its slices (Arecae semen) and pericarp (areca peel; Da Fu Pi), are traditional Chinese medicines used to treat distended abdomen and intestinal parasitosis, tenesmus and diarrhea [1,3]. This herb has a long history of medicinal use, limited evidence is available to substantiate its claimed pharmacological effects. Feeding rats with arecaderived polyphenols suppressed carrageenan-induced inflammatory responses and prostaglandin E2 formation [16] These reports indicate the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory potential of areca nut constituents. It remains unclear if areca-derived polyphenols affect food allergic responses
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