Cedar is a tree in the Pinaceae family of plants. Other plants in this family include fir trees, pines and spruces. They are an important species in terms of pollen allergy as they release a large amount of pollen in response to cold fronts.

There are many different species and each contains different combinations of allergens, they are all airway allergens associated with pollen.

Most contain pectate lyase, an enzyme involved in pollen development.

Other allergens found in cedar pollen include gibberellin proteins, polygalacturonase and thaumatin proteins.

Cedar trees release their pollen Autumn to December in response to low temperatures. This varies by country. It is considered to have high allergenicity and due to the volume of pollen it can release it is sometimes referred to as 'Cedar Fever', referring to the hayfever (allergic rhinitis) it causes.

An allergy to cedar pollen is strongly associated with seasonal allergic rhinitis (hayfever).

A cedar pollen allergy is also linked to asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and atopic dermatitis.

Other pollen containing pectate lyase include ragweed, wormwood, cypress, sunflower and juniper. Pectate lyase is also a food allergen found in almond.

Gibberellins are also found in cypress pollen. These proteins are more commonly linked to food allergens in foods like chilli, orange, cherry, apricot, peach and pomegranate.

Polygalacturonase is an allergen also found in cypress, olive, timothy grass, plane trees and thistles. It has been also found as a food allergen in papaya.

Thaumatin proteins are also found in cypress and olive. They are also found as food allergens in kiwi, pepper, apple, banana, cherry and peach.

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