Anti-Allergic Potential of Herbs and Herbal Natural Products - Activities and Patents

Abstract

The increase of allergic diseases has accompanied the global population growth and the major challenge is to reduce morbidity. The currently available treatments present limitations regarding efficacy and safety. Hence, patients with chronic allergic conditions seek alternatives to achieve better control of symptoms. Many natural products have been identified as potential anti-allergic agents. In addition, plant formulations have demonstrated, in general, to be safe in clinical trials and demonstrate additional effects along with Western medicines such as synergism and modulation of the immune system. It is known that plants represent a source of new therapeutic agents and some of them have shown mechanisms of action similar to synthetic agents. However, in general, herbs and their combination are patented mainly by Asian countries to be used in food and drinks or cosmetics and dietary supplements and the anti-allergic mechanisms of action are not yet fully elucidated. In this review, we highlight relevant patent and studies with cultivated plants, plant formulations, and secondary metabolites that have been evaluated with respect to its anti-allergic potential.

Inhibition and Interaction with Hyaluronidase by Compounds from Hop (Humulus lupulus L) Flowers

“…In addition, compounds or extracts from food materials have also been reported to possess antiallergic activity 10,11 . For their manageable safety profile and reduced overall cost, natural products from plants, especially from food materials, continue to hold significant promise for the treatment and prevention of allergic disease 12,13 .…”

<i>In Vitro</i> Antibacterial, Antifungal and Other Medical Properties of Endangered Medicinal Plant Seeds

“…Similarly, Eidi et al (2015), claimed that the crude extract of C. colocynthis documented the MIC of 1.56 to 12.5 mg/ml against Aspergillus fumigates, A. niger, Candida guilliermondii and Candida kreusei respectively [32]. The inhibitory activity of the extract might be due to the presence of active compounds including glucosides and resins which are water soluble and inhibit enzymatic activity in the cytoplasmic membrane [33].…”

Oleanolic Acid Controls Allergic and Inflammatory Responses in Experimental Allergic Conjunctivitis

“…sensitization with 200 μl from a mixture of 50 μg RWP (Polyscience, Warrington, PA) in 0.25 ml Imject Alum (Thermo Scienctific, Rockford, IL). Then, on day 10, mice were topically instilled into each eye with 1.25 mg of RWP in powder form [3], [18]. Twenty-four hours later, eyes, blood and spleens were collected.…”

“…Because alternative treatments are needed, plants and other natural materials may prove to be valuable sources of useful new anti-allergic agents [3]. Research groups have conducted clinical trials with remedies from complementary and alternative medicine [4]–[7].…”