Volume 63, Issue 2, 2014, Pages 211–217
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
'Benifuuki' Green Tea Containing O-Methylated Catechin Reduces Symptoms of Japanese Cedar Pollinosis: A Randomized, Double- Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
- Open Access funded by Japanese Society of Allergology
- Under a Creative Commons license
Open Access
ABSTRACT
Background
Methylated
catechin, one of the active ingredients in green tea, has been reported
to ameliorate allergic reactions. We evaluated the efficacy of
'Benifuuki' green tea, which contains O-methylated
epigallocatechin-3-O-[3-O-methyl] gallate (O-methylated EGCG), in
alleviating Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCP).
Methods
The
study was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. The
subjects with JCP were randomly assigned to drink 700 ml of 'Benifuuki'
green tea containing O-methylated EGCG or 'Yabukita' green tea (not
containing O-methylated EGCG) as a placebo every day from December 2007
through March 2008, which includes the pollen season. The primary
outcome was the area under the curve (AUC) of symptom scores during the
peak pollen season.
Results
Fifty-one
adults with JCP participated in the study. Twenty-six subjects were
assigned to 'Benifuuki' and 25 to 'Yabukita'. The AUC of symptom score
during the peak pollen season in the 'Benifuuki' group was significantly
smaller than in the 'Yabukita' group for each of runny nose, itchy
eyes, tearing, total nasal symptom score, total ocular symptom score,
nasal symptom-medication score and ocular symptom-medication score. The
total QOL-related questionnaire score for one week in the peak pollen
season was significantly better in the 'Benifuuki' group. Increase in
the peripheral eosinophil count in response to pollen exposure was
suppressed in the 'Benifuuki' group. No adverse events were reported in
either group.
Conclusions
'Benifuuki'
green tea containing a large amount of O-methylated EGCG reduced the
symptoms of JCP and has potential as a complementary/alternative
medicine for treating seasonal allergic rhinitis.
KEY WORDS
- allergic rhinitis;
- complementary and alternative medicine;
- efficacy;
- Japanese cedar pollionosis;
- treatment
ABBREVIATIONS
- O-methylated EGCG, O-methylated epigallocatechin-3-O-[3-O-methyl] gallate;
- JCP, Japanese cedar pollinosis;
- CAMs, complementary and alternative medicines;
- QOL, quality of life;
- VAS, visual analogue scale
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