Lp. Christensen, Direct release of the allergen tulipalin A from Alstroemeria cut flowers: a possible source of airborne contact dermatitis?, CONTACT DER, 41(6), 1999, pp. 320-324
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 a
mounts of tulipalin A released into the air were correlated with the tulipa
lin A and the total allergen content (tulipalin A and tuliposides) in the p
lant tissue, respectively. Tulipalin A was released primarily from the woun
ded areas, i.e. the stems, although small amounts were also emitted from th
e undamaged flowers in one of the hybrids. The tulipalin A concentrations i
n the stems of the Alstroemeria hybrids investigated were 0.06% and 0.13% o
f fresh weight, respectively, and the amounts directly released from the cu
t flowers were 0.4 and 2.2 mu g (cut flower)(-1) h(-1), respectively. The c
ontent of tulipalin A exceeded that of tuliposides in leaves and flowers of
both hybrids, whereas the content of tulipalin A in stems (in % fresh weig
ht) was slightly lower than the content of tuliposides. The possibility tha
t airborne tulipalin A from Alstroemeria could be a source of airborne cont
act dermatitis is discussed.