Clinical effects of a hop [Humulus lupulus] water extract on Japanese cedar [Cryptomeria japonica] pollinosis during the pollen season: A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

• Published in: Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry Vol. 71; no. 8; pp. 1955 - 1962
• Main Authors: Segawa, S.(Sapporo Breweries Ltd., Yaizu, Shizuoka (Japan). Frontier Labs. of Value Creation), Takata, Y, Wakita, Y, Kaneko, T, Kaneda, H, Watari, J, Enomoto, T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tokyo Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry 01.08.2007; Japan Society for Bioscience Biotechnology and Agrochemistry
• Subjects: ADMINISTRACION ORAL; ADMINISTRATION ORALE; Adult; AGUA; allergy; Anti-Allergic Agents - therapeutic use; biochemistry; Biological and medical sciences; biotechnology; blood; clinical examination; CLINICAL TRIALS; color; Cryptomeria - immunology; CRYPTOMERIA JAPONICA; Double-Blind Method; EAU; ENSAYOS CLINICOS; eosinophil; Eosinophils - drug effects; ESSAI CLINIQUE; EXTRACTOS; EXTRACTS; EXTRAIT; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; hay fever; hop water extract; human clinical trial; Humans; Humulus - chemistry; HUMULUS LUPULUS; HYPERSENSITIVITY; Japan; Japanese cedar pollinosis; Male; nose; ORAL ADMINISTRATION; Placebos; Plant Extracts - administration & dosage; POLEN; POLLEN; pollen season; REACCIONES ALERGICAS; REACTION ALLERGIQUE; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal - drug therapy; Treatment Outcome; WATER; Japan; Water; Human; human clinical trial; Allergy; Extract; Japanese cedar pollinosis; Eosinophil; Cryptomeria japonica; Gymnospermae; Clinical trial; Coniferales; Spermatophyta; Pollen; hop water extract
• ISSN: 0916-8451; 1347-6947; 1347-6947
• DOI: 10.1271/bbb.70157

The clinical effects of an oral administration of a hop water extract (HWE) on the improvement of Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCPsis) symptoms were investigated. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 39 subjects took a drink containing either 100 mg of HWE or a placebo for 12 weeks during the pollen season. Nasal symptoms (sneezing attacks, nasal discharge, and nasal obstruction) were assessed from the subjects' diaries. A clinical examination and blood sampling were carried out before and 4, 8 and 12 weeks after the initiation of treatment. As a result, a significant difference was observed in the symptom score and in the symptom-medication score 10 weeks after the intervention in comparison with the placebo group. Improvements were observed in nasal swelling, nasal color, amount of nasal discharge, and characteristics of nasal discharge in the intervention group 12 weeks after the treatment. No significant eosinophil infiltration into the nasal discharge was apparent in the intervention group throughout the study period, although it was observed in the placebo group. These findings indicate that an oral administration of HWE may be effective in alleviating the allergic symptoms related to JCPsis.