Direct emission of the allergen primin from intact Primula obconica plants

Abstract

The allergen primin and its precursor miconidin were collected by dynamic headspace technique from Primula obconica Hance and quantified and identified by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The primin concentrations in leaves/stems and flowers (including pedicel and calyx) of P. obconica were 262 microg and 531 microg (g fresh plant material)(-1), respectively, whereas miconidin concentrations were 92 microg (g fresh plant material)(-1) in leaves/stems and 194 microg (g fresh plant material)(-1) in flowers. The amounts of primin released from unchopped leaves/stems and flowers were 65.3 ng and 18.8 ng (g fresh plant material)(-1) h(-1), respectively. Dynamic headspace analysis of intact P. obconica plants showed that primin is also directly emitted from undamaged plants, although in smaller concentrations (6.2 ng (g fresh plant material)(-1) h(-1)), whereas miconidin was only emitted in minute amounts (less than 0.4 ng (g fresh plant material)(-1) h(-1)) both from intact plants and from unchopped plant parts. The possibility that primin from P. obconica could be a potential airborne allergen and therefore a source of airborne contact dermatitis is discussed.

An 8-year experience in airborne contact dermatitis

“…The five affected patients (patients no. Plant particles may be transported to the skin on dust, but primin is also directly emitted by intact plants in sufficient quantities to elicit allergic contact dermatitis in highly sensitized persons [7]. One patient (no.…”

Primula dermatitis mimicking lichen planus

“…Most typical are linear erythematous lesions with vesicles or bullae, most common on the fingers, hands, arms and face. A generalized eruption can also occur (9, 10), as well as an urticarial eruption, erythema multiforme‐like lesions (11), herpes simplex‐like lesions (12), vitiligo (13) or a photodermatitis (14). To our knowledge, this is the 1st report of a lichen planus‐like eruption, previously described from metals, tattoos, para‐phenylenediamine and film developers (15).…”

Composition of Volatile Oil of Primula Obconica in Central China

“…However, the horticultural uses of P. obconica have been limited due to the allergic compounds i.e., primin (a homologue of benzoquinones) and miconidin (a homologue of dihydroxybenzenes), in many cultivars Marner, 1995, 1996;Krebs and Christensen, 1995;Christensen and Larsen, 2000). In a number of sensitization experiments 2-methoxy-6-alkyl-1,4-benxoquinones with branch side chain length C1-C15, including primin, have showed an increase of the sensitizing capacity with increasing length of the alkyl side chain from C-1 to C-13 (reaching maximum activity at an alkyl chain of 10 to 11 carbons), but the sensitizing potency decreased beyond 13 carbons and the sensitization hardly occurred at C-1 to C-3.…”

“…Since 1888, however, P. obconica has been reported as a significant cause of allergic contact dermatitis, particularly in Europe (White, 1888;Rook, 1965;Aplin and Lovell, 2001). Therefore, the chemical composition of volatile oil of this poisonous plant has attracted phytochemists' attention, and two allergic compounds, i.e., miconidin (2-methoxy-6-penty-1,4-dihydroxybenzene) and primin (2-methoxy-6-pentyl-1,4-benzoquinone), have been isolated from the volatile oil of leaves, stems and flowers (including pedicel and calyx) of some European cultivars (Malect et al, 1992;Krebs and Christensen, 1995;Christensen and Larsen, 2000). The presence of allergic compounds has dramatically limited world wide commercial cultivation of P. obconica, even other ornamental primroses.…”