Researchers combined advanced computational methods with experimental studies to gain new insight, at the cell level, into how the plant compound formononetin might be used to treat food allergies. With nearly 10% of the world population affected by food allergies—which are sometimes life-threatening—new treatments are critically needed.

Formononetin is found in plants and herbs such as red clover and green beans and has been shown to have anticancer properties. It is a phytoestrogen, meaning that it has a structure similar to the hormone estrogen and can bind to the body's estrogen receptors.

"Our findings show that formononetin is a particularly good therapeutic candidate for treating food allergies," said Ibrahim Musa, a doctoral candidate in pathology, microbiology and immunology at New York Medical College. "Our research also revealed new mechanisms and targets that can be utilized to design future drugs for treating food allergies and other allergic disorders or to prevent severe anaphylaxis seen in allergic diseases."

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