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Water soluble rosemary extract for allergies

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Rosemary has been used for thousands of years for cooking and medicinal properties.  A popular approach with rosemary is to make oil and water soluble extracts.  The oil soluble extracts will contain phytochemicals that include diterpenes (e.g. carnosol, carnosic acid).  The water soluble extract will contain phytochemicals that include rosmarinic acid.

 

Part of plant used

Leaf – A water soluble fraction is made using the leaf and will be standardized to rosmarinic acid.

*This would be different from oil soluble fractions of rosemary leaf that would contain constituents such as carnosol, carnosic acid and other diterpenes.

 

Latin Name

Rosmarinus officinalis

 

Chemical Constituents

Rosmarinic acid is one of the main constituents in the water-soluble fraction of rosemary. When taken orally the human body will break down rosmarinic acid into a caffeic acid ester and dihydroxyphenyllactic acid.

Mechanism of Action

  • Rosmarinic acid reduces inflammation by blocking the cyclooxygenase enzyme.  This enzyme is responsible for making inflammatory mediators including prostaglandins.
  • Rosmarinic acid can also reduce reactive oxygen species.

 

Clinical Research

Three clinical trials are with rosmarinic acid are relevant to allergies and immune modulation.

1.) A clinical trial tested purified rosmarinic acid at a concentration of 50 or 200 mg for relieving seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis.1  The study found rosmarinic acid reduced symptoms of including sneezing, itchy eyes, itchy nose, watery eyes, and stuffy nose.

2.) A second clinical trial published in Experimental Biology and Medicine found an extract of Perilla frutescens enriched with rosmarinic acid reduced symptoms of seasonal allergies.2  This 21 day randomized placebo controlled trial found rosmarinic acid reduced inflammation (i.e. interleukin -1 and -8) and histamine in nasal fluid.  Significant improvements were also found in symptoms of itchy nose, watery eyes, itchy eyes and total symptoms.

3.) A clinical trial published in the Journal of Dermatology evaluated rosmarinic acid applied to the skin for relieving atopic dermatitis (i.e. eczema). 3   In 21 human subjects using the Severity Scoring of Atopic Dermatitis index results, erythema (i.e. redness) on antecubital fossa was significantly reduced at 4 and 8 weeks (P < 0.05).

 

Dose

Clinical trials have used 50 to 200 mg of rosmarinic acid safely and effectively for reducing symptoms of allergies.  In combination with other natural ingredients, lower doses of rosmarinic acid can be considered.

 

References

  1. Osakabe N1, Takano H, Sanbongi C, Yasuda A, Yanagisawa R, Inoue K, Yoshikawa T. Anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effect of rosmarinic acid (RA); inhibition of seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (SAR) and its mechanism.  Biofactors.  2004;21(1-4):127-31.
  2. Takano H1, Osakabe N, Sanbongi C, Yanagisawa R, Inoue K, Yasuda A, Natsume M, Baba S, Ichiishi E, Yoshikawa T. Extract of Perilla frutescens enriched for rosmarinic acid, a polyphenolic phytochemical, inhibits seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis in humans.Experimental Biology and Medicine.2004 Mar;229(3):247-54.
  3. Lee J, Jung E, Koh J, Kim YS, ParkD. Effect of rosmarinic acid on atopic dermatitis. Journal of Dermatology. 2008 Dec;35(12):768-71.
Jeremy Johnson, PharmD, PhD
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Categories: Allergies, Herbal Pharmacology, Inflammation