Perilla seed frutescens flavonoid significantly inhibits allergy and asthma associated immune cells

According to the American Lung Association nearly 20 million Americans suffer from asthma. Asthma is responsible for 14 million lost school days in children each year and the economic cost exceeds 16 billion dollars. Researchers from Kyushu University in Japan supplemented mice with Apigenin for two weeks and monitored levels of immunoglobulins such as IgG and IgE along with signs of inflammation for two weeks. Apigenin suppressed levels of IgE by 50% without suppressing other immunoglobulins. IgE is present primarily in the skin and mucous membranes and it is required for the reactions to food allergies, seasonal allergies (grass, weed and tree pollen), asthma, skin conditions (eczema), and the life threatening anaphylactic reaction to insect venom and medication. Apigenin also suppressed other parts of the immune system involved with inflammation and autoimmune diseases such as TNF-alpha. The study is published in the current issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Another recent study performed at Case Western Reserve University reports that Apigenin slowed prostate cancer tumor growth in animals at very low servings (20mcg to 50 mcg a day). That study was published in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal. Commentary by Jerry Hickey, R.Ph. - Immunoglobulins are antibodies that bind to and destroy bacteria and viruses. Apigenin, one of the two most important active ingredients in Perilla seed frutescens, did not inhibit the ability of the immune system to fight an infection because it did not inhibit the immunoglobulins that serve as antibodies against infection, yet strongly inhibited the portion involved with allergies, asthma, skin conditions, and autoimmune diseases. God's arsenal of health weapons derived from nature is very clever.

Studies show it is not the caffeine which helps decrease the risk of developing diabetes but probably the polyphenols.