Anti-allergic activity of an ethanol extract of bunching onion (Allium fistulosum), a traditional vegetable from Osaka | Functional Foods in Health and Disease - Online ISSN: 2160-3855; Print ISSN: 2378-7007 Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer Open Menu Functional Foods in Health and Disease - Online ISSN: 2160-3855; Print ISSN: 2378-7007 Home Food Science Publisher Functional Food Center Current Archives About About the Journal Aims and Scope Contact Editing Services Editorial Team Express Peer Review Graphical Abstract Journal Insights Privacy Statement Submissions Announcements Search Search Register Login Home / Archives / Vol. 12 No. 3 (2022): March 2022 / Research Articles Anti-allergic activity of an ethanol extract of bunching onion (Allium fistulosum), a traditional vegetable from Osaka Authors Tomoko Jippo Department of Food and Nutrition, Faculty of Human Life Sciences, Senri Kinran University Yuko Kobayashi Department of Food and Nutrition, Faculty of Human Life Sciences, Senri Kinran University Kosuke Kitada Research Institute of Environment, Agriculture and Fisheries, Osaka Prefecture Koji Kitsuda Research Institute of Environment, Agriculture and Fisheries, Osaka Prefecture DOI: https://doi.org/10.31989/ffhd.v12i3.900 Abstract Introduction: The incidences of allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, asthma, and food allergies are rising in developed countries. Mast cells play critical roles in various biologic processes related to allergic diseases, including expressing the high-affinity receptor for immunoglobulin (Ig) E on their surface. The interaction of multivalent antigens with surface-bound IgE causes the secretion of granule-stored mediators, as well as the de novo synthesis of cytokines. These mediators and cytokines precede the development of allergic diseases. In Osaka Prefecture, Japan, certain locally cultivated crops have received ‘Naniwa-yasai’, a designation that certifies the significance of traditional vegetables in supporting Osaka’s agriculture and cuisine for over a century. In this study, we investigated the anti-allergic effects of four traditional vegetables from Osaka. Results: The anti-allergic activity of extracts made from Tanabe radish, Moriguchi radish, bunching onion (Allium fistulosum), and mizu eggplant were examined. Various concentrations of each extract were added to RBL-2H3 mast cells prior to stimulation with the calcium ionophore A23187. β-hexosaminidase release was markedly and dose dependently decreased in mast cells following the addition of A. fistulosum, demonstrating its anti-allergic activity. None of the other vegetables had an anti-allergic effect on RBL-2H3 cells. Conclusion: An Osakan traditional vegetable, bunching onion (Allium fistulosum), exhibited anti-allergic activity, and should be explored further as a possible treatment for allergic diseases. Keywords: mast cell, anti-allergy, traditional vegetables, bunching onion (Allium fistulosum) Author Biography Tomoko Jippo, Department of Food and Nutrition, Faculty of Human Life Sciences, Senri Kinran University Department of Food and Nutrition, Faculty of Human Life Sciences, Senri Kinran University, Downloads [Abstract] [Full Article] Published 2022-03-15 Issue Vol. 12 No. 3 (2022): March 2022 Section Research Articles License Authors retain the copyright of their articles and grant the Functional Food Center (FFC) and its journals the right of first publication under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, including commercial use, provided the original author(s) and source are properly credited. Authors may post and share their published work freely, provided that the original publication in this journal is acknowledged. By submitting to this journal, authors confirm that their manuscripts are original, not under consideration elsewhere, and that they hold the necessary rights to grant this license. The Functional Food Center encourages open scientific exchange and allows derivative and extended works, provided attribution to the original publication is maintained. About the Journal      Editing Services      Graphical Abstract      Journal Insights        Submissions        Editorial Team       Privacy Statement        Contact        Current        Archives   Open Journal Systems Hosting and Support by: OpenJournalSystems.com