Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Plants are the source of numerous remedies in modern medicine, and some of them have been studied due to their potential immunomodulatory activity. Astragalus membranaceus Fisch. Britton P. Their potential to act as immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic agents makes them interesting for investigating their clinical potential in alleviating the symptoms of allergic diseases.
Treatment is usually pharmacological and may not be completely effective or have side effects. Thus, we are seeking traditional medicine, mostly medicinal plants, with promising potential for alleviating allergy symptoms.
This manuscript summarizes recent in vivo preclinical and clinical studies on three species with immunomodulatory activity, provides a comparison of their anti-allergic effects, and underlines the potential of their application in clinical practice. The obtained results confirmed their efficacy in the in vivo and clinical studies, but also emphasize the problem of phytochemical characterization of the species and difference between tested doses.
More clinical trials with standardized protocols defined active molecules, dosage, side effects are required to obtain safe and effective herbal drugs. Keywords: herbal immunomodulators, allergy, rhinitis, asthma, Astragalus membranaceus , Nigella sativa , Perilla frutescens. Hypersensitivity reactions are divided into four distinct groups based on their mechanism. Type I immediate hypersensitivity is mediated by allergen-specific immunoglobulin E IgE , which is associated with the high-affinity receptors of basophils and mast cells.
Allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and allergic asthma are caused by type I hypersensitivity reactions. Type II reactions are cytotoxic reactions characterized by IgG and IgM antibodies against cell surface antigens found on circulating blood cells or epithelial cells. This process leads to phagocytosis and cytotoxicity. These reactions can damage the organs due to deposition of complexes in the tissue. Delayed reactions type IV involve T cells as major effector cells, which cause damage directly or through the production or release of reactive oxygen species, lysosomal enzymes, and inflammatory cytokines [ 1 , 2 ].
