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Weed pollen allergens
Published in Richard F. Lockey, Dennis K. Ledford, Allergens and Allergen Immunotherapy, 2020
Michael Hauser, Gabriele Gadermaier, Sabrina Wildner, Lisa Pointner, Michael Wallner, Fatima Ferreira
Besides some exceptions (e.g., Poales and Lamiales orders within the Monocots), weeds are found predominantly in the Eudicots, from which they divide into several subclasses. Within the Eudicots, the most prominent groups are the Rosids and the Asterids, containing 10–20 orders, respectively, depending on classification. The Asterids can be further subdivided into several orders and families. The family of Asteraceae comprises a large number of flowering plants of approximately 20,000 species. Prominent allergenic members in this family are ragweed (Ambrosia), mugwort (Artemisia), feverfew (Parthenium), and sunflower (Helianthus). To date, about 40 different species are known within the genus Ambrosia. The most widespread Ambrosia species and major elicitors of allergic reactions are common and short ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia, A. elatior) and giant ragweed (A. trifida). Sensitization rates toward ragweed increased in the United States from 10% in the 1970s, toward 26.2% in the 1990s, and reached 32.8% in the 2000s, as assessed by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) [1–3]. A larger number of species (around 350) can be found in the genus Artemisia, with Artemisia vulgaris representing the best-studied allergenic species. In Europe, Artemisia pollen causes allergic reactions in 10%–14% of pollinosis patients [4]. Within the family of Plantaginaceae, the genus Plantago causes allergic reactions in 20%–40% of pollinosis patients [5,6].
Weed Pollen Allergens
Published in Richard F. Lockey, Dennis K. Ledford, Allergens and Allergen Immunotherapy, 2014
Fátima Ferreira, Gabriele Gadermaier, Michael Hauser, Michael Wallner
Besides some exceptions (e.g., Poales and Lamiales orders within the Monocots), weeds are found predominantly in the Eudicots, from which they divide into several subclasses. Within the Eudicots, the most prominent groups are the Rosids and the Asterids, containing 10–20 orders, respectively, depending on classification. The Asterids can be further subdivided into several orders and families. However, in terms of allergenicity, the Asteraceae and Plantaginaceae are the most clinically relevant families. The family of Asteraceae comprises a large number of flowering plants of approximately 20,000 species. Prominent allergenic members in this family are ragweed (Ambrosia), mugwort (Artemisia), feverfew (Parthenium), as well as sunflower (Helianthus). To date, about 40 different species are known within the genus Ambrosia. The most widespread Ambrosia species and major elicitors of allergic reactions are short or common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia, A. elatior), and giant ragweed (A. trifida). In the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III, conducted from 1988 through 1994 in the United States, 26.2% of the examined population was sensitized to short ragweed indicating the high allergenicity of the plant [1]. A larger number of species (around 350) can be found in the genus Artemisia, with Artemisia vulgaris representing the most important and best-studied allergenic species. In Europe, Artemisia pollen causes allergic reactions in 10%–14% of pollinosis patients [2]. Within the family of Plantaginaceae, the genus Plantago causes allergic reactions in 20%–40% of pollinosis patients [3].
Ragweed allergy immunotherapy tablet MK-3641 (Ragwitek®) for the treatment of allergic rhinitis
Published in Expert Review of Clinical Immunology, 2018
There are over 50 species of the genus Ambrosia in the United States[7]. Of these, 3 species predominant: the most abundant is short ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), the chief cause of late summer and fall hay fever in the eastern half of the United States, growing most profusely in the Mississippi and Ohio river drainages, the lower Missouri river valley, and Ontario in Canada (Figure 1) [7,8]. Short ragweed thrives in disturbed soil such as roadsides, vacant lots and tilled soil. Giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida) follows much the same pattern of occurrence but prefers river bottoms, while the range of western ragweed (Ambrosia psilostachya) extends westward across the Rocky Mountains into areas where lack of sufficient rainfall limits short ragweed growth[8].
Antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects of sesquiterpene lactones isolated from Ambrosia artemisiifolia on human adenocarcinoma and normal cell lines
Published in Pharmaceutical Biology, 2022
Balázs Kovács, Nikoletta Szemerédi, Norbert Kúsz, Tivadar Kiss, Boglárka Csupor-Löffler, Yu-Chi Tsai, Bálint Rácz, Gabriella Spengler, Dezső Csupor
Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. [Asteraceae]) is an annual pioneer plant; the genus stems from the Sonoran Desert (USA) according to the phylogenetic studies (Payne 1964). Common ragweed is the most widespread species of the genus and its appearance has been recorded in central (Hungary, Austria and Slovakia), eastern (Ukraine), south-eastern (Croatia and Serbia) and southern (France and Italy) parts of Europe. Although, presently, A. artemisiifolia is relatively rare in the northern part of the continent (e.g., Ireland, Scotland, Norway and Sweden), the climate change and the great genetic variability of the plant can promote the infection of these regions in the near future (Hyvönen et al. 2011). As a weed, it produces large amount of highly allergenic pollen which can induce allergic disease, such as rhinitis, conjunctivitis and asthma. The two major allergens of ragweed pollen are the Amb a I and Amb a II endopeptidases with immunoglobulin-E binding capacity (King et al. 1964; Wopfner et al. 2009;). In addition, dermal exposure to the plant can cause contact dermatitis and urticaria, which has been described in other Asteraceae plants. This reaction can be attributed to the sesquiterpene lactones, representative compounds of this family (Möller et al. 2002). The widespread use of common ragweed in European folk medicine has not been documented, although ethnobotanical sources mention certain use of A. artemisiifolia by Native Americans for medicinal purposes (e.g., to treat insect bites, infected toes, minor skin eruptions, hives, tea used for fever and nausea). The medicinally used parts were the leaves and herbs. However, there are no detailed data on the developmental stages of the utilized plants (Speck 1941; Tantaquidgeon 1942; Romero 1954; Foster and Duke 1990).