title: [Propolis allergy].
abstract: The incidence of propolis contact sensitivity was 1.2-3.3% among 7483 hospital patients during the period 1981-1987, while the prevalence among 1,558 healthy volunteers was 0.64%. A group of 26 patients with contact allergy to propolis was challenged with identified substances isolated from propolis. The mixture of 3-methyl-2-butenylester (3M2B) and 3-methyl-3-butenylester (3M3B) from caffeic acid caused a positive reaction in 7 patients, and in 5 of 9 patients there was a positive reaction to the mixture of 3M2B and 3M3B from diacetyl-caffeic acid. Among the 19 patients challenged with the flavonoid group, 3 had positive reactions, and individual derivatives of cinnamic acid caused positive reactions in 3 and 4 patients each. When five components taken from poplar buds were tested, the one that provoked the largest number of positive reactions was the methanol component (15 of 19 patients). The results show that propolis contact allergy is not caused by one main allergen, but by several allergens varying in chemical composition; the presence of these in propolis depends on the nature of the source plant and the place and time of collection by the bees.
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl für Dermatovenerologie der Medizinischen Fakultät.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hegyi
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Suchý
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nagy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000494:pharmacology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D011429:Propolis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011429:Propolis
vernacular_title: Zur Frage der Propolisallergie.