A vibrant green powder made from specially grown, dried, and ground green tea leaves, matcha is more than just a traditional beverage in Japan – it’s used in tea preparation and as a flavoring in numerous products. Now, new research suggests it may offer relief from seasonal allergies.
Previous research has indicated that matcha is rich in antioxidants and amino acids, and is linked to a number of health benefits, including improved heart and brain function, and reduced inflammation.
Professor Osamu Kamino from the Institute of Radiation Biology and Medicine at Hiroshima University led a research team to explore matcha’s effect on allergic rhinitis, commonly known as hay fever. “Human studies suggest that green tea may alleviate symptoms, but the mechanism has been unclear until now,” he said.
The study, published in npj Science of Food on March 5, used genetically modified mice exhibiting symptoms of hay fever. The mice were given matcha tea 2-3 times per week for over five weeks, with an additional dose administered 30 minutes before exposure to allergens.
Surprisingly, the mice sneezed significantly less than expected. Even more intriguing, the matcha did not affect the traditional immune mechanisms associated with allergies – immunoglobulin E, mast cells, and T cells – which are typically responsible for releasing histamine and inflammatory substances.
“Matcha reduced sneezing without changing the major immune indicators,” Professor Kamino explained. “Instead, it suppressed the activation of neurons in the brainstem responsible for the sneeze reflex.”
To confirm this, the team examined the activity of the c-Fos gene, an indicator of neural responses to strong stimuli like allergens, in the brain region responsible for sneezing (the spinal trigeminal nucleus). The results showed that gene activity increased significantly upon allergen exposure, but matcha brought levels almost back to normal.
Researchers now plan to test these findings in humans. The team emphasizes that the ultimate goal is to provide a natural and effective dietary option, supported by scientific evidence, to complement traditional treatments for allergic rhinitis symptoms. This research offers a promising avenue for exploring non-pharmaceutical approaches to allergy management.
Source: Medical Xpress
