Direct release of the allergen tulipalin A from Alstroemeria cut flowers: a possible source of airborne contact dermatitis?

Abstract

The allergen tulipalin A was collected by dynamic headspace technique from cut flowers of 2 Alstroemeria hybrids and quantified and identified by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The amounts of tulipalin A released into the air were correlated with the tulipalin A and the total allergen content (tulipalin A and tuliposides) in the plant tissue, respectively. Tulipalin A was released primarily from the wounded areas, i.e. the stems, although small amounts were also emitted from the undamaged flowers in one of the hybrids. The tulipalin A concentrations in the stems of the Alstroemeria hybrids investigated were 0.06% and 0.13% of fresh weight, respectively, and the amounts directly released from the cut flowers were 0.4 and 2.2 microg (cut flower)(-1) h(-1), respectively. The content of tulipalin A exceeded that of tuliposides in leaves and flowers of both hybrids, whereas the content of tulipalin A in stems (in % fresh weight) was slightly lower than the content of tuliposides. The possibility that airborne tulipalin A from Alstroemeria could be a source of airborne contact dermatitis is discussed.

• Authors: L P Christensen
• Journal: Contact dermatitis (Contact Dermatitis) Vol. 41 Issue 6 Pg. 320-4 (Dec 1999) ISSN: 0105-1873 [Print] England
• PMID: 10617212 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Allergens
• Glycosides
• 6-tuliposide A
• alpha-methylene gamma-butyrolactone
• Sodium Oxybate
• 4-Butyrolactone

Topics

• 4-Butyrolactone (adverse effects, analogs & derivatives, analysis)
• Air Pollution, Indoor (adverse effects)
• Allergens (adverse effects, analysis)
• Chromatography, Gas
• Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
• Dermatitis, Allergic Contact (etiology)
• Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
• Glycosides (analysis)
• Humans
• Plants (chemistry)
• Sodium Oxybate (analogs & derivatives, analysis)