{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,20]],"date-time":"2026-08-20T14:59:24Z","timestamp":1787237964352,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":54,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,28]],"date-time":"2025-01-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1738022400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea","award":["PJ01588401"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["PJ01588401"]}]},{"name":"National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea","award":["PJ01588403"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["PJ01588403"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Nutrients"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Allergic rhinitis is an IgE-mediated condition of nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing which significantly impairs the quality of life. Current treatments, including antihistamines, often have long-term side effects, leading patients to seek safer alternatives. Objectives: Therefore, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the symptom relief efficacy of immature sword bean pod (SBP) extract, a natural material, in patients with allergic rhinitis, explore the mechanisms by which SBP regulates allergic immune responses, and evaluate its efficacy and safety as a functional ingredient in the management of allergic rhinitis. Methods: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial involving 64 participants with perennial allergic rhinitis, the subjects were assigned to receive either SBP or placebo orally for six weeks. Results: The SBP group exhibited significant improvements in nasal congestion (interaction p = 0.031), RQLQ (interaction p = 0.001), sleep (interaction p = 0.004), systemic reaction (interaction p = 0.002), daily life (interaction p = 0.047), and nasal symptoms (interaction p = 0.002). SBP treatment in EoL-1 and HMC-1 cells also led to a notable reduction in eosinophil cationic protein levels (p &lt; 0.05), a key biomarker of allergic inflammation, by inhibiting PI3K\/Akt\/mTOR activation, resulting in decreased eosinophil activity. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the SBP extract is a promising natural treatment for allergic rhinitis, offering both efficacy and safety by improving key symptoms and reducing inflammatory responses.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/nu17030468","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,28]],"date-time":"2025-01-28T07:54:08Z","timestamp":1738050848000},"page":"468","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Immature Sword Bean (Canavalia gladiata) Pod Alleviates Allergic Rhinitis (A Double-Blind Trial) Through PI3K\/Akt\/mTOR Signaling"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"17","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1948-4442","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Hye-Jeong","family":"Hwang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Agrofood Resources, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Wanju-gun 55365, Republic of Korea"},{"name":"Department of Food and Biotechnology, Korea University, Sejong-si 30019, Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hyeock","family":"Yoon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Food and Biotechnology, Korea University, Sejong-si 30019, Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Joo-Hyung","family":"Cho","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Myongji Bioefficacy Research Center, Myongji University, Yongin-si 17058, Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Seong","family":"Lee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Biomedical Research Institute, Dankook University Hospital, Cheonan-si 31116, Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kyung-A","family":"Hwang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Agrofood Resources, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Wanju-gun 55365, Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Young Jun","family":"Kim","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Food and Biotechnology, Korea University, Sejong-si 30019, Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Akhouri, S., and House, S.A. 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