Anti-Allergic Compounds from Red Tomato Peel

Daily food habit with anti-allergic activities is expected to prevent the onset of allergic diseases and ameliorate allergic symptoms. The red color of ripe tomato fruit is due mainly to the accumulation of the carotenoid all-trans-lycopene, which is produced during fruit ripening. Red tomato peel extract (RTPE) contain lycopene (450mg/ kg) and has been found to have anti-allergic effects on man compare its flesh extract and yellow tomato peel extract (YTPE). RTPE could possibly inhibit histamine release and relieve the symptoms of all types of allergy including cedar pollinosis. To evaluate the anti-allergic effect of RTPE, we performed a research study randomized, on three groups in 50 perennial allergy patients with red peel extract; yellow peel extract; tomato flesh and Dextrin (20 healthy university students as control). All patients using oral administration of red tomato peel extract (RTPE); yellow/pink tomato peel extract (YTPE) and tomato flesh extract (TFE) 30mg per day /patient each group and Dextrin as control (30mg per day /patient each group) for 56 days. We found that the skin test for allergy score significantly decreased in the RTPE group only at the end of the trial compared to the beginning and treated with YTPE and TFE groups. Besides this, we also found that sneezing score decreases significantly at the end of experiment time compare to the beginning (p<0.03). There were decreasing tendencies of rhinorrhea and nasal obstruction in the RTPE group. The patients quality of life was significantly improved in the RTPE group after 56 days of treatment (p=0.02) but not in YTPE; tomato flesh extract (TFE) and dextrin group. A significant improvement in total symptom scores, combining sneezing, rhinorrhea and nasal obstruction, was observed after oral administration of RTPE for 56 days (p=0.01). Thus, this evidence will be helpful for the development of low molecular compounds for allergic diseases and it is expected that a dietary menu including an appropriate intake of carotenoids (fruits & vegetables) may provide a form of complementary and alternative medicine and a preventative strategy for allergic diseases.