Plant Extract May Be New Therapy for Hay Fever, Study Suggests

Antihistamine medications have long been considered the treatment of choice to alleviate the symptoms of hay fever sufferers. Now, in a randomized double-blind study, Dr. Adam Chaker and Prof. Dr. Carsten Schmidt-Weber demonstrated that the plant extract Ze 339 (Petasol butenoate complex) combats nasal mucosa swelling faster and more effectively.
Apparently, however, the extract not only works in acute cases -- "Our data indicate that the extract also has a preventive effect, which must be investigated further," said Dr. Schmidt-Weber, head of the Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM) in Munich. The results look promising for improving the quality of life of people with allergies.
So far the plant extract has only been approved as a drug in Switzerland and South Korea. Further studies need to be carried out in order to allow it to be sold as a prescription drug elsewhere.


APA
Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen - German Research Centre for Environmental Health (2011, April 30). Plant extract may be new therapy for hay fever, study suggests. ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 29, 2011, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2011/04/110427070904.htm