Tomato seeds contain steroidal
saponins called lycoperosides. However, it currently remains unclear whether lycoperosides exert anti-inflammatory or
anti-allergic effects. Therefore, we herein investigated the effects of tomato seed extract (TSE) and
lycoperoside H (LH) in
Interleukin (IL)-33 transgenic mice. TSE (500 mg/kg) or LH (10 mg/kg) was orally administered once a day for 101 days and then evaluated mouse behavior, skin symptoms, and blood and skin inflammatory
cytokines. TSE slightly suppressed scratching behavior, while TSE and LH both increased locomotive activity. LH also significantly suppressed
inflammation scores in the limbs, and TSE and LH reduced transepidermal water loss. Epidermal
hyperplasia and the accumulation of eosinophils and mast cells were decreased by TSE and LH. Skin Th2/Th1
cytokine ratio and serum
IgE concentrations were significantly reduced by TSE and LH. The present results suggest that the
oral administration of LH derived from tomato seeds effectively ameliorates the symptoms of
atopic dermatitis. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: It has been reported that tomato seeds contain steroidal
saponins, lycoperosides, though the effects of lycoperosides on anti-inflammatory or
anti-allergic have not yet been revealed. In this study, we demonstrated that the
oral administration of
lycoperoside H derived from tomato seeds suppressed
atopic dermatitis symptoms in
IL-33 transgenic mice.