Curry powder is widely used in various dishes. It is a mixture of 20-50 kinds of natural spices made from the leaves and seeds of plants. Although there have been some reports of allergy caused by inhalation of spices in western countries, while there are no reports of occupational allergy caused by spices in our country. We report a patient with rhinitis and asthma induced by exposure to spice dusts in a curry industry. A 32-year-old man developed rhinorrhea, sneezing and coughing three years prior to visiting our hospital. Since 10 years ago, he has been involved in grinding and mixing spices in a curry industry. Total peripheral eosinophil count was 400/mm3 and serum total IgE level was 163 IU/ml. Allergy skin-prick test showed positive responses to mugwort (3+), D. farinae (3+) and celery (3+), while serum specific IgE detected by RIA (DPC, LA, CA) showed all negative results. Skin-prick test to four kinds of spice extractscelery seed, fennel, cumin and coriander-showed strong positive responses. Bronchoprovocation test with celery seed extract (1:10 v/v) showed an early asthmatic response. Specific IgE and IgG4 antibodies to celery seed and the other three spices were detectable by ELISA. IgE-ELISA inhibition test using each spice antigen showed significant inhibitions. In conclusion, IgE-mediated mechanism may be involved in the pathogenesis of curry powder-induced bronchoconstriction in an exposed worker. Further studies will be needed to investigate the role of specific IgG4 in pathogenesis of bronchoconstriction in curry powder-induced asthma.
Adult ; Antibodies ; Apium graveolens ; Artemisia ; Asthma ; Asthma, Occupational* ; Bronchoconstriction ; Cough ; Cuminum ; Dust ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Eosinophils ; Foeniculum ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulin G ; Inhalation ; Rhinitis* ; Sneezing ; Spices

OBJECTIVETo identify comparatively several commercial Chinese herbal medicines and their counterfeits.

METHODThe micromorphological characters were identified. The shape, surface, section and other characters of the medicinal materials were identified by using anatomical lens and scanning apparatus. Pictures were taken and saved.

RESULTMain micromorphological differences between several Chinese herbal medicine including Lonicera macranthoides, L. similis, Cuminum cyminum, Plantago asiatica, Cuscuta chinensis, Sinapis alba, Salvia miltiorrhiza and their counterfeits were identified.

CONCLUSIONThe reference for the authenticity identification of Chinese herbal medicine and helpful experiences for the research of the same subject were provided.

Cuminum ; anatomy & histology ; classification ; Cuscuta ; anatomy & histology ; classification ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Plants, Medicinal ; anatomy & histology ; classification ; Quality Control ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; anatomy & histology ; classification ; Sinapis ; anatomy & histology ; classification

OBJECTIVETo provide the basis of molecular authentication of Radix Bupleuri by the comparison of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences of five kinds of Radix Bupleuri in common use.

METHODFirstly, total DNA of five kinds of Radix Bupleuri was extracted. Secondly, the ITS sequence was amplified by PCR with universal primer of ITS and PCR product was directly sequenced after purification.

RESULTThe length of ITS1 and ITS2 sequence was 214-220 bp and 230-231 bp respectively. There were distinct variation sites between the ITS sequences of the five kinds of Radix Bupleuri.

CONCLUSIONITS sequence may be the evidence for the molecular authentication of Radix Bupleuri.

Base Sequence ; Bupleurum ; classification ; genetics ; Cuminum ; genetics ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots ; genetics ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification ; genetics

The prevalence and population density of the mycobiota of 50 samples belonging to 10 kinds of spices (anise, black pepper, red pepper, black cumin, peppermint, cardamom, clove, cumin, ginger and marjoram) which collected from different places in Jeddah Governorate were studied. The natural occurrence of mycotoxins in those samples was also investigated. Fifteen genera and thirty - one species of fungi in addition to one species variety were isolated and identified during this study. The most common genera were Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium. Aflatoxins (12~40 microg/kg) were detected in the extract of 5 samples of each of anise seeds and black pepper fruits; three samples of black cumin seeds and on sample only of each of peppermint and marjoram leaves out of 5 samples tested of each. Sterigmatocystin (15~20 microg/kg) was detected in some samples of red pepper, cumin and marjoram. The inhibitory effects of 10 kinds of powdered spices were tested against 3 toxigenic isolates of fungi (Aspergillus flavus, A. versicolor and Penicillium citrinum). Clove proved to be antimycotic compounds. It inhibited the growth of the tested toxigenic fungi. Black pepper, peppermint, cardamom, cumin and marjoram completely inhibited aflatoxins production, while black pepper and cardamom also completely inhibited sterigmatocystin production.
Aflatoxins ; Aspergillus ; Piper nigrum ; Capsicum ; Cuminum ; Elettaria ; Syzygium ; Fruit ; Fungi* ; Fusarium ; Ginger ; Mentha piperita ; Mycotoxins* ; Nigella sativa ; Origanum ; Penicillium ; Pimpinella ; Population Density ; Prevalence ; Saudi Arabia* ; Spices* ; Sterigmatocystin