PLANTAIN (RIBWORT) POLLEN ALLERGY
Key Allergens
Also referred to as English Plantain or ribwort, this is in the
Plantaginaceae family of plants, which includes flowers like snapdragons and foxgloves. It is not closely related to the fruit
plantain, which is in
Musaceae family.
This weed is wind pollinated, so is considered to have high allergenicity.
The 2 allergens recognised by the World Health Organization (WHO) in plantain are an ole e 1-related protein, these are found in the pollen of olive trees, you can read more about them on the
Olive Page and a
profilin protein.
The pollen season for plantain is May to November, peaking in June.
Associated Syndromes
An allergy to plantain pollen is sometimes associated with seasonal allergic rhinitis (hayfever).
A plantain pollen allergy is also linked to asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and atopic dermatitis.
As plantain pollen contains profilin proteins it can sometimes be linked to
Celery Mugwort Spice Syndrome (CMS Syndrome), this is when the immune system overreacts to foods because it has already been sensitised to similary shaped pollen. The symptoms of CMS Syndrome are called oral allergy symptoms as they affect the lips, mouth and throat.
Cross Reactivity
Ole e 1 pollen proteins are also found in olive trees, needle bush, pigweed, sugar beet, goosefoot, saffron crocus, ash trees, burning bush, privet, grasses, mesquite, russian thistle and lilac.
Other plants containing profilin inhalant allergens are ragweed, wormwood, birch, sunflower, mugwort, plantain, poplar and oak. Profilins are also found as food allergens in kiwi, celery, peanut, chilli, watermelon, orange, hazelnut, melon, carrot, strawberry, soya, walnut, lychee, lupin, apple, cherry, almond, peach, pear, mustard, tomato and aubergine.
You can download a pollen allergens chart from my
KOFI page for just $0.90 (£0.69 or €0.82)!
Resources
Websites
Worcester Pollen Forecast
Allergy UK - Managing your asthma and your allergic rhinitis throughout the seasons
Pollen.com - English Plantain (Plantago)
ASCIA - Plantain Pollen Calendar
Wild Food UK - Ribwort Plantain
Wild Life Trusts UK - Ribwort Plantain
Allergen Encyclopedia - Ribwort Plantain
Science Direct Plantago
Pollen Library - Plantago
Articles and Journals
IgE to cyclophilins in pollen-allergic children: Epidemiologic, clinical, and diagnostic relevance of a neglected panallergen, 2024
Anaphylactic Shock Due to Psyllium (Plantago ovate Seed) Allergy: A Case Report, 2022
Involvement of some allergens of plant and animal origin in allergic reactions related to respiratory system, 2021
Relevance of Major Allergens in Weed Pollen Allergy, 2021
Allergic Rhinitis to Weed Pollen in Germany: Dominance by Plantain, Rising Prevalence, and Polysensitization Rates over 20 Years, 2020
Marker allergens of weed pollen – basic considerations and diagnostic benefits in the clinical routine, 2014
Component-resolved diagnosis of pollen allergy based on skin testing with profilin, polcalcin and lipid transfer protein pan-allergens, 2009
IgE-Mediated Sensitization to English Plantain Pollen in Seasonal Respiratory Allergy: Identification and Partial Characterisation of Its Allergenic Components, 1991
Let me know if you found any of these interesting or useful.
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