w7 Marguerite, Ox-eye daisy

Allergens within Weed Pollens

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  • Latin name: Chrysanthemum leucanthemum
  • Family: Asteraceae (Compositae)
  • Common names: Marguerite, Ox-Eye Daisy
  • Source material: Pollen

Allergen Exposure

Geographical distribution
Ox-eye daisy originated in Europe and northern Asia, and is now naturalised as a weed in North America, India, Japan, Australia and other parts of the world. There are about 200 species of Daisy worldwide. It may be grown for its beautiful flowers, but it is also a plague on pastures and crop fields across Europe.

The Ox-Eye daisy is a short-lived, rhizomatous perennial, growing erect 0.6 m to 1 m in height. The leaves are dark and deeply lobed. The lower are spoon-shaped and stalked; the upper are narrower and stalkless or clasping the stem.

The composite flowers are borne at the ends of stems and consist of a central depressed yellow disc, 10 to 20 mm wide, surrounded by petal-like white ray flowers 1 to 2 cm long. Ox-Eye daisy flowers from June to August. The scented flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by insects. The plant is self-fertilising. The plant also reproduces vegetatively with spreading rootstalks.

A vigorous Daisy can produce 26,000 seeds, while smaller specimens produce 1,300 to 4,000. Tests have shown that 82% of the buried seeds remained viable after six years, and 1% were still viable after 39 years.

Environment
The flowers have escaped cultivation and now crowd out other plants on many rangelands. Other common sites are meadows and roadsides.

The Ox-Eye daisy’s leaves and flowers are edible. Tea is made from the plant. It is also used as a herbal medication.

Unexpected exposure
Ox-Eye daisy and other Chrysanthemum plants contain sesquiterpene lactone, a strong inducer of allergic contact dermatitis, and allergic contact dermatitis associated with photosensitivity (1).

Allergens
No allergens from the pollen of this plant have yet been characterised. Although sesquiterpene lactones are allergens present in the plant and responsible for contact dermatitis, these allergens have not been isolated from the pollen.

Potential cross-reactivity

An extensive cross-reactivity among the different individual species of the genus could be expected, as well as to a great degree among members of the family Asteraceae (Compositae) (2). This extensive cross-sensitisation is seen with pollen and other constituents of several members of the Asteraceae, e.g., Matricaria, Chrysanthemum, Solidago, Feverfew, Tansy and Chamomile (3-6).

A study reported clinical cross-reactivity between Artemisia vulgaris and Matricaria chamomilla, suggesting the possibility that Artemisia vulgaris would be cross-reactive with other Asteraceae: Ambrosia; Chrysanthemum; Matricaria; Solidago, as cross-reactivity within the family is extensive (7).

Clinical Experience

IgE-mediated reactions
Plants that are insect-pollinated are often thought not to cause allergic symptoms usually associated with pollinosis. However this is not the case with many insect-pollinated plants, in particular Ox-Eye daisy and Chrysanthemum, which have been shown to result in pollinosis in e.g. Chrysanthemum growers (8).

Ox-Eye daisy pollen induces asthma, allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis and urticaria, particularly as occupational allergies in individuals working with flowers (5). A study from Turkey describes IgE sensitisation and inhalant allergies from Ox-Eye pollen (9).

Other reactions
Pollen from the Chrysanthemum genus of plants has also been shown to result in airborne contact dermatitis (10-11).

Ox-Eye daisy and other members of this family, e.g. Chrysanthemum, are very common and important causes for both occupational and non-occupational contact dermatitis, as a result of physical contact with the plant (3,12-16). Compositae-sensitive patients may present a localised dermatitis and, although this is uncommon, sensitisation may occur in early childhood (17).

Non-immunologic contact urticaria has also been described (18).
Triforine, a pesticide frequently used in Chrysanthemum nurseries, has been shown to cause delayed-type allergenicity in Chrysanthemum growers. Triforine also shows cross-reactivity with Dichlorvos (19).

Compiled by Dr Harris Steinman, harris@zingsolutions.com

References:

    1. Kuno Y, Kawabe Y, Sakakibara S. Allergic contact dermatitis associated with photosensitivity, from alantolactone in a Chrysanthemum farmer.
      Contact Dermatitis 1999;40(4):224-5
    2. Yman L. Botanical relations and immuno-logical cross-reactions in pollen allergy. 2nd ed. Pharmacia Diagnostics AB. Uppsala. Sweden. 1982: ISBN 91-970475-09
    3. Hausen BM. The sensitizing capacity of Compositae plants. III. Test results and cross-reactions in Compositae-sensitive patients. Dermatologica 1979;159(1):1-11
    4. Paulsen E, Andersen KE, Hausen BM. Sensitization and cross-reaction patterns in Danish Compositae-allergic patients.
      Contact Dermatitis 2001;45(4):197-204
    5. de Jong NW, Vermeulen AM, Gerth van Wijk R,
      de Groot H. Occupational allergy caused by flowers. Allergy 1998;53(2):204-9
    6. Aberer W, Jarisch R. Chrysanthemum allergy. [German] Wien Klin Wochenschr 1987;99(13):466-8
    7. de la Torre Morin F, Sanchez Machin I, Garcia Robaina JC, Fernandez-Caldas E, Sanchez Trivino M. Clinical cross-reactivity between Artemisia vulgaris and Matricaria chamomilla (chamomile). J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 2001;11(2):118-22
    8. Schubert H, Prater E, Diener C. Pollinosis in Chrysanthemum growers. [German] Z Gesamte Hyg 1990;36(3):162-3
    9. Guneser S, Atici A, Cengizler I, Alparslan N.
      Inhalant allergens: as a cause of respiratory allergy in east Mediterranean area, Turkey. Allergol Immunopathol (Madr) 1996;24(3):116-9
    10. Nandakishore T, Pasricha JS. Pattern of cross-sensitivity between 4 Compositae plants, Parthenium hysterophorus, Xanthium strumarium, Helianthus annuus and Chrysanthemum coronarium, in Indian patients.
      Contact Dermatitis 1994;30(3):162-7
    11. Sharma SC, Kaur S. Airborne contact dermatitis from Compositae plants in northern India. Contact Dermatitis 1989;21(1):1-5
    12. Paulsen E, Sogaard J, Andersen KE. Occupational dermatitis in Danish gardeners and greenhouse workers (III). Compositae-related symptoms.
      Contact Dermatitis 1998;38(3):140-6
    13. Lamminpaa A, Estlander T, Jolanki R,
      Kanerva L. Occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by decorative plants. Contact Dermatitis 1996;34(5):330-5
    14. Hausen BM, Oestmann G. The incidence of occupationally-induced allergic skin diseases in a large flower market. [German] Derm Beruf Umwelt 1988;36(4):117-24
    15. Singhal V, Reddy BS. Common contact sensitizers in Delhi.
      J Dermatol 2000;27(7):440-5
    16. Sharma SC, Tanwar RC, Kaur S. Contact dermatitis from chrysanthemums in India. Contact Dermatitis 1989;21(2):69-71
    17. Wakelin SH, Marren P, Young E, Shaw S. Compositae sensitivity and chronic hand dermatitis in a seven-year-old boy.
      Br J Dermatol 1997;137(2):289-91
    18. Fischer TW, Bauer A, Hipler UC, Elsner P. Non-immunologic contact urticaria from Chrysanthemum confirmed by the CAST method. Complement-activated (C5a) cellular antigen stimulation test.
      Contact Dermatitis 1999;41(5):293-5
    19. Ueda A, Aoyama K, Manda F, Ueda T, Kawahara Y. Delayed-type allergenicity of triforine (Saprol).
      Contact Dermatitis 1994;31(3):140-5

2009