title: 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.affiliation: Department of Fruit, Vegetable and Food Science, Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Aarslev.
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Christensen
mesh_terms: D015107:4-Butyrolactone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000209:etiology*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006027:Glycosides / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry*; D012978:Sodium Oxybate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D006027:Glycosides; C046169:6-tuliposide A; C014096:alpha-methylene gamma-butyrolactone; D012978:Sodium Oxybate; D015107:4-Butyrolactone