過敏性呼吸道疾病在台灣有逐年增加的趨勢，但有效的治療方式仍需發展。許多流行病學研究顯示，增加每日水果及蔬菜的攝取可降低呼吸道發炎症狀及肺部疾病的盛行率，尤其是黑醋栗多酚化合物的萃取物對於減緩肺部發炎之功效已有相關實證研究。本文針對黑醋栗中的活性成分、抗發炎特性、抗發炎機制及其在人體試驗中的抗發炎功效來探討其對於過敏性呼吸道症狀的可能保健功效。

The occurrence of allergic respiratory diseases is increasing every year in Taiwan, but no effective treatment has been developed. Epidemiological studies revealed that an increase in daily consumption of fruit and vegetables decreases the prevalence of respiratory inflammation and lung diseases. In particular, the polyphenols in blackcurrant play a key role in attenuating the occurrence of lung inflammation. This review explores the active compounds in blackcurrant, the anti-inflammation activity and mechanism mediated by blackcurrant, and the results of human subject researches to conclude the putative protection of blackcurrant on allergic respiratory diseases.