Flavonoid Apigenin Could Protect Against Asthma and Other Allergies

Filed in archive Allergy: Diagnostics and Treatment , Allergy: Research and Development , Asthma , Living with Allergies on July 23, 2006

Japanese researchers have found evidence that a flavonoid called apigenin could protect and/or reduce the occurrence of asthma and other allergies associated with the immunoglobulin E (IgE).

Mice experiments showed that apigenin was able to reduce IgE levels by 50%!

"IgE is one of the major mediators of the immediate hypersensitivity reaction that underlies atopic conditions such as seasonal allergy, food allergy, asthma, and anaphylaxis," explained the researchers.

Apigenin can be found in a variety of food including apples, beans, broccoli, cherries, grapes, leeks, onions, and tomatoes, as well as plant-derived beverages like tea and wine. But because this compound is found most abundantly in parsley and celery -- to which a lot of people often complain of adverse reactions-- they suggest that apigenin may be better taken as supplements.

See the full report from NutraIngredients.