Sensitization to Zygophyllum fabago pollen. A clinical and immunologic study

A Survey on Phytochemical Composition and Biological Activity of Zygophyllum fabago from Iran

Purpose: Zygophyllum fabago L. (Z. fabago) is a widespread perennial herb which is used as a medicinal plant in traditional medicine of Iran, Turkey and China. The present study was a survey on phytochemical constituents and biological activities of this plant. Methods: Methanolic extract of the roots was fractionated over a C-18 pre-packed cartridge (Sep-pak) and chromatographic separation was performed on a reversed-phase preparative HPLC. Structural elucidation of the isolated compounds was carried out using UV, ¹H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectral analyses. Furthermore, the chemical compositions of the essential oil of the aerial parts were identified by GC-MS analysis. Antiproliferative and antioxidant activities of all extracts from aerials were determined by MTT and DPPH assays, respectively. Results: Phytochemical investigation on the plant roots led to the isolation and identification of two the 60% methanol-water Sep-pak fraction, a prenylated flavone glycoside, 6-C-prenyl-7-O-[ β -D-4'''-O-acetyl-glucopyranosyl-(1'''→2'')-β-D-glucopyranosyl] apigenin, which was named as a Zygocaperoside and also, other flavonoid, was named as the Isorhamnetin -3-O glucoside. None of the extracts showed antiproliferative effect against cancerous cells. However, among the extracts, methanolic extract indicated antioxidant activity. Moreover, essential oils of flowers and leaves of plant have high amounts of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and diterpenoides. Conclusion: The results of present study introduce Z. fabago roots as a new source of flavonoid glycosides and suggest it as an appropriate candidate for further pharmacological studies.

Conjunctival allergen provocation test : guidelines for daily practice

Conjunctival allergen provocation test (CAPT) reproduces the events occurring by instilling an allergen on the ocular surface. This paper is the compilation of a task force focussed on practical aspects of this technique based on the analysis of 131 papers. Main mechanisms involved are reviewed. Indications are diagnosing the allergen(s)-triggering symptoms in IgE-mediated ocular allergy in seasonal, acute or perennial forms of allergic conjunctivitis, especially when the relevance of the allergen is not obvious or in polysensitized patients. Contraindications are limited to ongoing systemic severe pathology, asthma and eye diseases. CAPT should be delayed if receiving systemic steroids or antihistamines. Local treatment should be interrupted according to the half-life of each drug. Prerequisites are as follows: obtaining informed consent; evidencing of an allergen by skin prick tests and/or serum-specific IgE dosages; being able to deal with an unlikely event such as acute asthma exacerbation, urticaria or anaphylaxis, or an exacerbation of allergic conjunctivitis. Allergen extracts should be diluted locally prior to administration. Positive criteria are based on itching or quoted according to a composite score. An alternative scoring is based on itching. CAPT remains underused in daily practice, although it is a safe and simple procedure which can provide valuable clinical information.

An aerobiological perspective in allergy and asthma

Allergic diseases are amongst the most common chronic disorders worldwide. Today, more than 300 million of the population is known to suffer from one or other allergic ailments affecting the socio-economic quality of life. Major causative agents implicated are pollen grains, fungal spores, dust mites, insect debris, animal epithelia, etc. Several aerobiological studies have been conducted in different parts of the world to ascertain aerial concentration and seasonality of pollen grains and fungi. Especially from clinical point of view, it is important to know the details about the pollen season and pollen load in the atmosphere. The flowering time of higher plants are events that come periodically in each season, but the time of blooming may differ from year to year, in different geographic locations. Based on differences recorded in several years of observations in airborne pollen, pollen calendars are drawn as an aid to allergy diagnosis and management. This review article emphasises on various aerobiological parameters of environmental pollen from different parts of the world with special emphasis from India. The role of aerobiology in the diagnosis and management of allergic diseases is reviewed briefly in this article.

Correlation between Olea europaea and Parietaria judaica pollen counts and quantification of their major allergens Ole e 1 and Par j 1-Par j 2

BACKGROUND

In patients with pollinosis, allergic symptoms are often correlated with the number of airborne pollen grains, although this correlation is not always close. The direct measurement of the concentration of aeroallergens has only recently been introduced and is an important advance in public health information systems.

OBJECTIVE

To compare specific quantification of aeroallergens Ole e 1 and Par j 1-Par j 2 Olea and Urticaceae pollen counts.

METHODS

The Hirst method sampler and the Burkard Cyclone sampler were used for pollen count and allergen quantification, respectively. The aerosol was extracted and quantified for Ole e 1 and Par j 1-Par j 2 content using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay procedures.

RESULTS

Day-to-day variations were observed in both the pollen count and the amount of allergens. Pollen counts and aeroallergen quantification were closely correlated with 99% significance (Olea/Ole e 1: R = 0.892, P < .001; Urticaceae/Par j 1-Par j 2: R = 0.734, P < .001).

CONCLUSION

The technique for the sampling and quantification of aeroallergens presented in this article, based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and applied to the protein extracts directly obtained from the bioaerosol, represents an important advance in the epidemiologic study of allergic respiratory diseases.

Cadmium tolerance and accumulation in the noxious weed Zygophyllum fabago

Zygophyllum fabago L. is an invasive weed able to proliferate in coarse mineral substrates contaminated with heavy metals. To quantify its Cd tolerance, seedlings from seeds collected from a heavy metal contaminated area in Southeast Spain were exposed for 4 weeks to a nutrient solution containing 10 µmol·L–1 CdCl2. Although Cd inhibited axillary bud development, it did not reduce plant survival or dry mass. Most of the absorbed Cd remained in the roots, but the shoots were able to accumulate up to 156 mg·kg–1 dry mass of Cd. Zygophyllum fabago was able to regulate Cd translocation from roots to shoots, where it accumulated preferentially in the older leaves. Accumulation of Cd reduced the water content and water potential in shoots, as well as osmotic potential and leaf stomatal conductance in young leaves, although the plants were able to partly adapt to reestablish a more favourable water balance after 4 weeks of stress exposure. The population displayed considerable heterogeneity, and it may be possible to select individual plants combining high biomass production and a high rate of Cd accumulation. The use of Z. fabago as a Cd-tolerant species for phytoremediation is discussed.

3 Beta-(3,4-dihydroxycinnamoyl)-erythrodiol, a cytotoxic constituent of Zygophyllum geslini collected in the Algerian Sahara

3beta-(3,4-Dihydroxycinnamoyl)-erythrodiol was isolated as the cytotoxic constituent of the roots of Zygophyllum geslini.

Regular Papers / Articles OrdinairesIntine wall modifications during germination ofZygophyllum fabago(Zygophyllaceae) pollen grains

The composition of the inner layer (intine) of mature, activated, and germinated Zygophyllum fabago L. (Zygophyllaceae) pollen grains was studied. Cytochemical techniques showed neutral and acidic polysaccharides to be the major component of the thin and unlayered intine. The intine lacks lipids, with only scattered lipid globules being observed near the plasma membrane. Immunocytochemical localization of esterified and unesterified pectins in the intine was performed to determine the behaviour (permeability and elasticity) of germinal apertures. The high density of unesterified pectins in the intine of Z. fabago may be related to harmomegathic changes, which increase the elasticity of the intine during hydration and germination processes. A new layer was deposited in germinated pollen grains, recognized by 1,3-β-glucan (callose) antibodies; this layer plays a role in keeping the grains swollen during the germination process and probably forms a selective barrier to control the movement of substances through the pollen walls. Indeed, the composition of the Z. fabago intine was related to both the hydration process preceding germination and the passage of allergenic proteins through it.Key words: callose, germination, intine, pectins, pollen grains, Zygophyllum fabago.

Immunocytochemical localization of allergenic proteins from mature to activated Zygophyllum fabago L. (Zygophyllaceae) pollen grains

Zygophyllum fabago L. (Zygophyllaceae) can be found in the Middle East, in North Africa and in the arid zones of the Mediterranean region. It easily establishes itself in new regions, and is considered an invasive plant. They undergo ambophilous pollination, as there is a relationship between this type of pollination and its allergenic incidence. A combination of transmission electron microscopy with immunocytochemical methods was used to localize allergenic proteins during hydration and activation processes. Germination was induced in vitro for 1,2,4,6, and 30 min. The activated proteins reacting with antibodies present in human sera from allergenic patients are found in the cytoplasm, intine, exine and exudates from the pollen grains. The activation time plays an important role on the labelling intensity. Labelling of allergenic proteins was abundant at 1 and 2 min of activation, and decreased at 4 and 6 min. The rapid activation and release of the allergenic proteins appears to be the main cause of allergenic activity of Z. fabago pollen grains.