ROLE OF WINE POLYPHENOLS IN THE MITIGATION OF INFLAMMATORY AND
ALLERGIC DISEASE
Emilio Jirillo: University of Bari, Bari (Italy)
Polyphenols (flavonoids) have been extracted from fermented grape marc(FGM) of two black
grapes, Negroamaro (Italy) and Koshu (Japan).The following models have been used to verify the
ability of both FGM to attenuate inflammatory or allergic diseases.
In a model of murine experimental colitis,administration of Koshu (K)- FGM but not of
Negroamaro (N)- FGM lead to a reduction of colitis as observed by preservation of colon length
and diminished release of proinflamamtory cytokines (IL -1- beta and TNF-alpha).
In a model of murine asthma, administration of K- FGM but not of N-FGM reduced IgE production,
eosinophil infiltration in the bronchial alveolar lavage fluid as well as passive cutaneous
anaphylaxis. On the other hand, N- FGM but not K-FGM inhibited degranulation
of rat basophils in vitro upon challenge with antigen. Quercetin was the most active flavonoid in
performing suppression of degranulation.
Taken together, these data suggest the possible clinical application of K- and N-FGM to human
inflammatory and allergic disease.