STUDIES ON CASSIA POLLEN GRAINS OF INDIA

The aerial distribution of the pollen grains Cassia species was found to be predominant in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the adjacent states of Sou th India. The present study deals with the allergenicity and biochemic al aspects of four different species of Cassia which were found to be dominant in the atmosphere of India. The pollen grains of Cassia occid entalis were found to be the most and Cassia roxburghii the least reac tive of the four different species studied. The individual analysis of the reactive patients also showed the possibilities of cross-reactivi ty. The protein, carbohydrate and amino acids of these members were an alysed. The results obtained are useful as a step towards standardisat ion of allergen extracts of Cassia species and are also worthy of furt her investigations both in relation to cross-reactivity and characteri sation of allergens.