Passion fruit peel shows anti-inflammatory effects against asthma

Researchers at the University of Aveiro found that powdered purple passion fruit peel, a by-product of the food industry, may help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress linked to asthma. In tests, the highest concentration boosted the body's antioxidant defences and lowered levels of immunoglobulin E and other molecules involved in airway inflammation, alongside fewer inflammatory cells in lung tissue, without adverse safety effects. The study, published in Food Research International, involved researchers from Brazil and Coimbra. Authors stress it is not a substitute for conventional asthma treatment and further studies are needed to confirm effects in humans.