Therapeutic effect of topical administration of red onion extract in a murine model of allergic rhinitis

Min Young Seo,Hun-Jong Dhong,Jung Joo Lee,Gwanghui Ryu,Chung-Hwan Baek,Seung-Kyu Chung,Sang Duk Hong,Hyo Yeol Kim,Ki Ryung Kim,Seung Hoon Lee

doi:10.1038/s41598-019-39379-9

Min Young Seo, Hun-Jong Dhong + Show 8 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-39379-9

Copy DOI

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of topical administration of onion (Allium cepa) extract on nasal cavity for treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR). BALB/c mice were sensitized by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin (OVA) and challenged with intranasal instillation of OVA with or without onion extracts for five times a week on 3 consecutive weeks. Allergic symptom score according to frequencies of sneezing, serum total and OVA specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) level, cytokine levels of nasal mucosa and eosinophilic infiltration were analyzed. Allergic symptom score, serum total and OVA specific IgE, cytokine levels of nasal mucosa (interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, IFN-γ, TNF-α and COX-2) and eosinophilic infiltration were higher in allergic mouse group than negative control group. Topical application of onion extracts significantly reduced allergic symptoms and OVA specific IgE levels. Cytokine levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13 and IFN-γ were significantly decreased in groups treated with onion extract. In addition, eosinophil infiltration of nasal turbinate mucosa was also significantly decreased after treatment with onion extract. Topical administration of onion extract significantly reduces allergic rhinitis symptom and allergic inflammatory reaction in a murine allergic model. It can be assumed that the topical application of onion extract regulates allergic symptoms by suppressing the type-1 helper (Th1) and type-2 helper (Th2) responses and reducing the allergic inflammatory reaction.

Highlights

Allergic rhinitis (AR), one of the most common diseases in rhinology clinic, is mediated by immunoglobulin E (IgE) response
There were no significant differences of allergic symptom score, serum IgE levels and mRNA expression of cytokines between groups A and B
There was no statistical significance between each group because of small number of mice (n = 4 each), the p-value was less than 0.05 in symptom score, IL-5, IL-13 and IFN-γ before Bonferroni’s corrections in the comparison of group C and group E

Summary

Introduction

Allergic rhinitis (AR), one of the most common diseases in rhinology clinic, is mediated by immunoglobulin E (IgE) response. Allium cepa (onion) is a widely used medicinal herb for folk remedy to treat upper airway disease in Korea. These days, many people ingest extract from Allium cepa for treatment of allergic or upper airway disease in our country. They have suggested that onion extract possessed anti-inflammatory reaction and this could be related to its anti-histaminic reaction They have reported that inhibition of eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) activity with onion extract treatment. Onion extract treatment has the anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effect via various mechanisms These studies evaluated the effects of systemic administration of onion extract. To the best of our knowledge, no study has reported the therapeutic effect of topical administration of Allium cepa extract. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of topical nasal administration of Allium cepa extract on AR using a murine model

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion