FAHF-2 and Herbal Medicine
I have been following research related to Mount Sinai work on peanut anaphylaxis and food allergy herbal formula-2 (FAHF-2). Some intriguing new
results in the journal Clinical & Experimental Allergy:
Results
All sham-treated mice challenged at weeks 14 and 18 showed anaphylactic symptoms. In contrast, FAHF-2-treated mice showed no sign of anaphylactic reactions. PN-specific [peanut-specific] IgE levels in FAHF-2-treated mice also were reduced whereas IgG2a levels were increased. Furthermore, MLN cells from FAHF-2-treated mice produced markedly less IL-4 and IL-5, but more IFN-gamma, and contained increased numbers of IFN-gamma-producing CD8(+) cells as compared with sham-treated mice.
Conclusion
FAHF-2 treatment established PN tolerance in this model, which persisted for at least 4-week post-treatment. This result was associated with modulation of intestinal T helper type 1 cell (Th1) and Th2 cytokine production, and with increased numbers of mesenteric IFN-gamma-producing CD8(+) cells.
I like to try not to be overly optimistic when it comes to animal data -- mouse models are mouse models -- but this is very positive stuff.
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