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Antiallergic activities of shallot (Allium ascalonicum L.) and its therapeutic effects in allergic rhinitis

Arpornchayanon W, Klinprung S, Chansakaow S, Hanprasertpong N, Chaiyasate S, Tokuda M, Tamura H

Asian Pacific journal of allergy and immunology, 2022

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Onion has antiallergic activity but lack of evidence for shallot.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether shallot owns similar antiallergic activity to onion and its therapeutic effects in allergic rhinitis when added to standard treatment.

METHODS: In-vitro β-hexosaminidase inhibitory activities of shallot was compared with onion on RBL-2H3 cells. In clinical study, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed. Sixteen AR patients were randomized equally into the controls who received cetirizine 10 mg once daily and placebo capsules for 4 weeks, and the treatment who received 3g of oral shallot per day (equivalent to 1 ½ bulbs) and cetirizine. Visual analog scores of overall symptoms (VAS), total nasal and ocular symptom scores (TNSS and TOSS), nasal airway resistance (NAR), and adverse events were assessed.

RESULTS: Shallot extract at 200 μg/mL had an average β-hexosaminidase inhibition rate of 97% while onion extract had 73%. HPLC chromatograms (λ = 290nm) of both plants showed nearly identical patterns of quercetin compounds, such as quercetin 3,4'-diglucoside, quercetin 4'-glucoside, and quercetin. After 4-week of treatment, 62.5% of patients in shallot group and 37.5% of patients in control group showed improvement of post-treatment VAS. TNSS were significantly reduced in both groups, however no difference between groups (P = 0.18). TOSS were significantly improved only in the shallot group (P = 0.01). Adverse events from shallot were not…

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Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design.

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