title: Allergenic Potential of Tomatoes Cultivated in Organic and Conventional Systems.
abstract: Tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) are a widely consumed vegetables and contain many health beneficial micronutrients. Unfortunately, they may also cause adverse allergic reactions in sensitized people. Many studies, conducted in recent years, indicate that organically produced vegetables have higher nutritional value, improved sensory quality and contain more health-enhancing bioactive compounds than vegetables grown under the conventional system. However, the relation between organic methods of cultivation and allergenic potential of tomatoes has received little scientific attention. This study analyzed samples of five tomato cultivars taken from organic and conventional systems over three consecutive years. The content of profilin, Bet v 1 and lipid transfer protein (LTP) analogues in tomato samples was determined using an indirect ELISA assay. Substantial quantities of these proteins were found in certain cultivars across all three years of cultivation. On the basis of these findings, organically grown tomatoes appear to offer little advantage over conventionally cultivated plants in terms of reduced allergenic potential.
authors.affiliation: Institute of General Food Chemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Lodz University of Technology, Stefanowskiego 4/10, 90-924, Lodz, Poland. marta.slowianek@o2.pl.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Słowianek
authors.affiliation: Institute of General Food Chemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Lodz University of Technology, Stefanowskiego 4/10, 90-924, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Skorupa
authors.affiliation: Department of Functional, Organic Food and Commodities, Faculty of Human Nutrition and Consumer Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159c, 02-776, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewelina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hallmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Functional, Organic Food and Commodities, Faculty of Human Nutrition and Consumer Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159c, 02-776, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rembiałkowska
authors.affiliation: Institute of General Food Chemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Lodz University of Technology, Stefanowskiego 4/10, 90-924, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leszczyńska
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D052179:Antigens, Plant / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005638:Fruit / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000276:immunology*; D009753:Nutritive Value; D058871:Organic Agriculture; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D051304:Profilins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D013045:Species Specificity; D014675:Vegetables
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D051304:Profilins; C511920:lipid transfer proteins, plant
keywords: Bet v 1; Conventional tomatoes; LTP; Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.; Organic tomatoes; Profilin; Tomato allergy