title: Standardization of Weed Pollen Extracts, Japanese Hop and Mugwort, in Korea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Japanese hop (Humulus spp.) and mugwort (Artemisia spp.) are notable causes of autumn pollinosis in East Asia. However, Japanese hop and mugwort pollen extracts, which are widely used for the diagnosis, have not been standardized. This study was performed to standardize Japanese hop and mugwort pollen extracts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Allergen extracts were prepared in a standardized way using locally collected Humulus japonicus and purchased Artemisia vulgaris pollens. The immunoglobulin E (IgE) reactivities of prepared extracts were compared with commercial extracts via IgE immunoblotting and inhibition analyses. Intradermal skin tests were performed to determine the bioequivalent allergy unit (BAU).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The IgE reactive components of the extracts via IgE immunoblotting were similar to those of commercial extracts. A 11-kDa allergen showed the strongest IgE reactivity in Japanese hop, as did a 28-kDa allergen in mugwort pollen extracts. Allergenic potencies of the investigatory Japanese hop and mugwort extracts were essentially indistinguishable from the commercial ones. Sums of erythema of 50 mm by the intradermal skin test (ΣED50) were calculated to be 14.4th and 13.6th three-fold dilutions for Japanese hop and mugwort extracts, respectively. Therefore, the allergenic activity of the prepared extracts was 90827.4 BAU/mg for Japanese hop and 34412 BAU/mg for mugwort.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We produced Japanese hop and mugwort pollen extracts using a standardized method. Standardized Japanese hop and mugwort pollen extracts will facilitate the production of improved diagnostic and immunotherapeutic reagents.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Allergy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Kyoung Yong
authors: KY
authors: Jeong
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Allergy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Mina
authors: M
authors: Son
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Allergy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Soo Young
authors: SY
authors: Choi
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Allergy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Kyung Hee
authors: KH
authors: Park
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Allergy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Hye Jung
authors: HJ
authors: Park
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Allergy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Chein Soo
authors: CS
authors: Hong
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Allergy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Jae Hyun
authors: JH
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Allergy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. parkjw@yuhs.ac.
authors: Jung Won
authors: JW
authors: Park
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D019306:Artemisia; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D011058:Pollen / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology*; D012015:Reference Standards; D056910:Republic of Korea; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E
keywords: Allergen standardization; Japanese hop; mugwort