Apple polyphenols may moderate staph toxins

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Simple apple juice apparently inhibits a staph toxin called SEA. This may be of some interest since Staph toxins are suspected to have a role in airways allergy, asthma, polyps (though SEB is more suspect than SEA).Polyphenol-enriched apple extracts also decrease intestinal food allergy in mice, by lowering Th2 cytokines. They could also be of use to protect the stomach from aspirin, and also could alleviate the symptoms of allergic rhinitis.Funnily enough, the product's commercial site (Apple Poly) also claims dramatic efficacy against hair loss.If the idea of irrigating with apple juice crossed your mind, remember first that apples are outdoor agricultural products and therefore not sterile at all.Finally, if you want to prepare fresh juice, Boskoop apples are the richest in polyphenols.--------------J Agric Food Chem. 2010 Apr 19. [Epub ahead of print]Inhibition of Biological Activity of Staphylococcal Enterotoxin A (SEA) by Apple Juice and Apple Polyphenols.Rasooly R, Do PM, Friedman M.Foodborne Contaminants Research Unit.AbstractThe foodborne pathogen Staphylococcus aureus produces the virulent staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA), a single-chain protein that consists of 233 amino acid residues with a molecular weight of 27 078 Da. SEA is a superantigen that is reported to contribute to animal (mastitis) and human (emesis, diarrhea, atopic dermatitis, arthritis, and toxic shock) syndromes. Changes of the native structural integrity may inactivate the toxin by preventing molecular interaction with cell membrane receptor sites of their host cells. In the present study, we evaluated the ability of one commercial and two freshly prepared apple juices and a commercial apple polyphenol preparation (Apple Poly) to inhibit the biological activity of SEA. Dilutions of freshly prepared apple juices and Apple Poly inhibited the biological activity of SEA without any significant cytotoxic effect on the spleen cells. Additional studies with antibody-coated immunomagnetic beads bearing specific antibodies against the toxin revealed that SEA added to apple juice appears to be largely irreversibly bound to the juice constituents. The results suggest that food-compatible and safe anti-toxin phenolic compounds can be used to inactivate SEA in vitro and possibly also in vivo, even after induction of T-cell proliferation by long-term exposure to SEA. The significance of the results for microbial food safety and human health is discussed.---------------Am J Rhinol. 2008 May-Jun;22(3):223-7.Detection of enterotoxin DNA in Staphylococcus aureus strains obtained from the middle meatus in controls and nasal polyp patients.Van Zele T, Vaneechoutte M, Holtappels G, Gevaert P, van Cauwenberge P, Bachert C.Ear, Nose, and Throat Department, Upper Airways Research Laboratory, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium. thibaut.vanzele@...AbstractBACKGROUND: Recent findings indicate that Staphylococcus aureus and its products may be involved in the modification of nasal polyposis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of S. aureus enterotoxin genes and the agr subtype in bacterial DNA of S. aureus strains isolated from the middle meatus of nasal polyp and control patients. METHODS: S. aureus strains were isolated from nasal polyp patients and controls. The strains were screened using PCR for their agr subtype, classic superantigens (SEA, SEB, SEC, SED or TSST-1), the egc cluster (SEG, SEI, SEM, SEN, and SEO and other enterotoxins (SEE, SEH, SEJ, SEK, and SEL) distinct from the egc locus. RESULTS: Seventy-five percent of S. aureus strains had at least one enterotoxin in their DNA. The egc gene cluster was identified in 27 (67.5%) strains. At least one classic enterotoxin gene was present in 42.5% of the strains. Interestingly, there were no differences in enterotoxin genes between S. aureus strains isolated from controls compared with nasal polyposis patients. In controls, an equal distribution among the four agr groups was found, while 73% of the NPs strains belonged to agr groups I and II. CONCLUSION: In this study we found no significant difference between strains from nasal polyp patients and controls in the presence of enterotoxin genes. However, in NPs, a higher number of strains belonged to agr I or II, which are associated with strains causing enterotoxin-mediated disease.Laryngoscope. 2005 Sep;115(9):1580-5.Superantigens and chronic rhinosinusitis: detection of staphylococcal exotoxins in nasal polyps.Seiberling KA, Conley DB, Tripathi A, Grammer LC, Shuh L, Haines GK 3rd, Schleimer R, Kern RC.Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 676 North St. Clair, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.AbstractOBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS: The role of infectious agents in the etiology of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) remains unclear. Recent studies have provided indirect evidence of exposure to staphylococcal exotoxins in the blood and polyp tissue of patients with CRSwNP. These exotoxins have the capacity to act as superantigens, bypassing normal antigen processing and directly stimulating a massive inflammatory response. The objective of the study was to analyze mucus and polyp tissue samples from patients with CRSwNP for the presence of staphylococcal exotoxins. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. METHODS: Tissue and mucus samples were obtained from 42 patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis and 11 normal control patients. Twenty-nine of 42 patients had chronic rhinosinusitis with bilateral nasal polyposis, 2 had antrochoanal polyps, and 11 had chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps. Eleven patients without chronic rhinosinusitis or polyps served as normal control patients. Specimens were analyzed for the presence of five staphylococcal exotoxins (SEA, SEB, SEC, SED, and toxic shock syndrome toxin type 1 [TSST-1]) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Histological analysis of specimens and mean eosinophil counts were correlated with the presence of toxin. RESULTS: At least one toxin was detected in 14 of 29 patients with bilateral nasal polyposis. Nine of the 14 patients also had positive findings for additional toxins. The dominant histological pattern in the CRSwNP patient group was polypoid mucosa with edema, which was found in both ELISA-positive and ELISA-negative patients. Mean eosinophil counts tended to be higher in ELISA-positive patients with polyps compared with patients without toxin detection. No toxin was detected in the 11 specimens taken from normal control patients. Only 1 of the 13 patients with CRS without polyps had positive ELISA results for toxin. CONCLUSION: The current study demonstrates the presence of superantigen toxins in 14 of 29 patients with CRSwNP, with SEB and TSST-1 being the most common. Further studies are necessary to correlate the presence of toxin with the pathological changes present in polyp tissue.-----------Clin Exp Allergy. 2010 Feb 17. [Epub ahead of print]Polyphenol-enriched apple extract attenuates food allergy in mice.Zuercher AW, Holvoet S, Weiss M, Mercenier A.Allergy Group, Department of Nutrition and Health, Nestle Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland.AbstractSummary Background The immune system may be modulated with nutrition to prevent the development or to treat the symptoms of allergy. Among other foods, consumption of apples has been linked to reduced incidence of atopic dermatitis and respiratory allergy. Objective We evaluated the efficacy and mechanisms of a polyphenol-enriched apple extract in reducing symptoms of food allergy. Methods In a model of food allergy to ovalbumin (OVA), BALB/c mice were fed with an apple extract either during sensitization or just before the challenge. After the challenge, allergic symptoms were scored, OVA-specific serum immunoglobulins were determined by ELISA, cytokine production by mesenteric lymph node (MLN) cells was measured by a multiplex assay and gene expression profiles in the intestine were addressed using quantitative real-time PCR. Results Consumption of the apple extract reduced symptoms of food allergy upon challenge. This was paralleled by reduced levels of intestinal mast cell protease, diminished cytokine secretion by MLN cells and reduced local intestinal mRNA expression of various T-helper type-2 associated and pro-inflammatory genes. Mechanistic studies suggested decrease of mediator release by effector cells and reduction of allergenicity by protein-polyphenol interaction as potential mechanisms responsible for protection. Conclusion Polyphenol-enriched apple extract can attenuate food allergy symptoms in sensitized mice via two distinct possible mechanisms.----------Br J Nutr. 2008 Dec;100(6):1228-36.Apple polyphenol extracts prevent aspirin-induced damage to the rat gastric mucosa.D'Argenio G, Mazzone G, Tuccillo C, Grandone I, Gravina AG, Graziani G, Fogliano V, Romano M.Gastroenterologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università Federico II, Naples, Italy. dargenio@...AbstractAspirin causes gastroduodenal ulcers and complications. Food bioactive compounds could exert beneficial effects in the gastrointestinal tract. We evaluated whether apple polyphenol extract (APE) reduced aspirin-induced injury to the rat gastric mucosa. Rats were treated with APE (10(-4) m catechin equivalent) before oral aspirin (200 mg/kg). Cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2), transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF alpha) and heparin-binding epidermal-growth-factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) mRNA and protein expression were assessed by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively; malondialdehyde (MDA) was determined by HPLC; gastric secretion was evaluated in pylorus-ligated rats. APE decreased acute and chronic aspirin injury both macroscopically and microscopically (approximately 50 % decrease in lesion score; P < 0.05). Aspirin up-regulated mRNA and protein expression of COX-2 and HB-EGF, but not of TGF alpha; APE reduced aspirin-induced mRNA and protein over-expression of COX-2 and HB-EGF; aspirin significantly increased gastric MDA and this effect was counteracted by APE pre-treatment. APE did not significantly affect gastric acid secretion. In conclusion, APE reduces aspirin-induced gastric injury independently of acid inhibition. We speculate that APE might be of therapeutic use in the prophylaxis of aspirin-related gastropathy.----------J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 2006;16(5):283-9.Clinical effects of apple polyphenols on persistent allergic rhinitis: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled parallel arm study.Enomoto T, Nagasako-Akazome Y, Kanda T, Ikeda M, Dake Y.Department of Otolaryngology, Japanese Red Cross Society, Wakayama Medical Center, Wakayama, Japan.AbstractBACKGROUND: We often encounter persistent allergic rhinitis due to house dust mites in the practice of otolaryngology, and its prevalence in Japan is high (18.7%). Persistent allergic rhinitis is usually treated with antihistamines and local steroids, but they often cause adverse effects such as sedation and drowsiness. Polyphenols derived from apples have been reported to suppress histamine release from rat cells, reduce auricular swelling in allergic mice, and alleviate skin inflammation in atopic patients. These effects suggest that apple polyphenols are effective for the treatment of various allergic disorders, but the results of their clinical use have not been reported. Objective: To assess the effect of drinks containing apple polyphenols on clinical symptoms of persistent allergic rhinitis. METHODS: Thirty-three patients aged 15 to 65 years with moderate or severe persistent allergic rhinitis in whom the symptoms persisted for 3 years or longer were treated without apple polyphenols (control group), with a low dose of apple polyphenols, or with a high dose of apple polyphenols, and changes in the clinical symptoms were examined. RESULTS: Significant improvements were observed in sneezing attacks (P<.05) and nasal discharge (P<.01) in the high-dose group and in sneezing attacks (P<.05) in the low-dose group. Compared with the control group, an improvement was observed in sneezing attacks and nasal discharge in many patients of the polyphenol-treated groups. In terms of intranasal findings, a significant improvement was observed in swelling of the nasal turbinate in the low-dose group (P<.05). The percentage of patients who showed an improvement in swelling of the nasal turbinate was higher in the polyphenol-treated groups. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that apple polyphenols are effective in alleviating symptoms of persistent allergic rhinitis.Mol Nutr Food Res. 2005 Aug;49(8):797-806.Polyphenol profiles of apple juices.Kahle K, Kraus M, Richling E.Food Chemistry, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.AbstractFocusing on 17 constituents, the polyphenol profiles of juices freshly made from various dessert (n = 4) and cider apple cultivars (n = 7) as well as commercially available apple juices (n = 24) were investigated using high-performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array detection (HPLC-DAD) and (HPLC)-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (ESI(neg)-MS/MS) analyses. Significant differences in the total polyphenol content as well as the profiles of the apple cultivars under study were observed. For dessert apples the total polyphenol content ranged from 154 to 178 mg/L, whereas for 'old' German cider apple cultivars 261-970 mg/L were determined. Boskoop showed the highest (970 mg/L) and Granny the lowest (154 mg/L) polyphenol content of the freshly prepared samples under study. Hydroxycinnamic acids, with chlorogenic acid as dominating constituent, ranged from 57 to 68 mg/L as well as from 134-593 mg/L in juices made from dessert apples and that from cider apples, respectively. Dessert apple juices showed lower contents of dihydrochalcones (10-35 mg/L) and flavan-3-ols (50-95 mg/L) compared to that of cider apples (34-171 mg/L and 70-393 mg/L, respectively). Quercetin and its derivatives were found from 0.4-4 mg/L and 0.4-27 mg/L in juices made from dessert apples and that of cider apples, respectively. Compared with freshly made juices, lower contents of polyphenols were determined in the commercial samples under study. Amounts ranging from 110-459 mg/L, dominated by chlorogenic acid with concentrations from 53-217 mg/L, were determined. Information about cultivar-typical apple polyphenol content and profile is important for bioactivity studies and, consequently, essential for the development of consumer-relevant products with particular nutritional functionalities.