Identification of specific IgE binding proteins in Castor bean (Ricinus communis) pollen obtained from different source materials

Variability in protein content of pollen of Castor bean (Ricinus communis) before and after exposure to the air pollutants SO and NO

“…Pollen of Ricinus communis is an important allergen and is well characterized in India and elsewhere (Singh et al 1992, 1993, Garcia-Gonzalez et al 1999. It has been established that R. communis can cause allergic symptoms in 5 -30% of the symptomatic population in India (Shivpuri et al 1979, Shivpuri 1980, Parui et al 1999).…”

Protein content and patient skin test sensitivity of the pollen ofArgemone mexicanaon exposure to SO2

“…of SO 2 for 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours in a glass chamber according to the method of Santra et al (1991) and the other set was kept as control. Protein from the pollen sample of both sets was extracted in 0.2 M Tris HC1 buffer, pH 7.4 at 4°C following the method of Singh et al (1993) with slight modifications and the protein concentration in each extract was quantified by the method of Lowry et al (1951). SDS-PAGE was done following the method of Laemmli (1970), using a 10% T mini-gel (8 x 7 cm gel).…”

Identification and partial characterization of the allergenic proteins ofRicinus communisL. pollen - a new approach

“…Ricinus communis of the family Euphorbiaceae, an economically important plant is cultivated widely for the production of castor-oil from its seeds. However, its pollen has been reported as being of an allergenic nature (Acharya 1980, Shivpuri 1980, Singh et al 1973, 1993. A large shrub or a small anemophilous tree, it blooms profusely during November to March releasing enormous amounts of pollen in to the atmosphere and its pollen has been recorded in the atmosphere in various parts of India (Atluri et al 1992, Parui et al 1998, Singh and Devi 1992, Tilak 1989.…”

“…In view of the signi®cance of the role of pollen antigens in the diagnosis and therapy of allergic patients, identi®cation, isolation, puri®cation and characterization of pollen allergens is a prerequisite for proper standardization. Efforts are being made globally to standardize the pollen antigens as pollen collected from different source materials, stages of maturity, time intervals and geographical places or with different storage periods have shown signi®cant variation in their allergenic components (Singh et al 1993). In general, application of gel ®ltration and column chromatography along with electrophoresis yield puri®ed protein fractions for chemical characterization by removing the additional irritants and toxic substances along with other unwanted components in the crude mixtures of pollen antigens.…”

“…Singh et al (1993) have also used immunoblot analysis to identify the allergenic components of Ricinus communis pollen obtained from different stages of in¯orescence, over different time intervals, and in different years. This has proved to be an ef®cient technique for investigating the speci®city of IgE antibodies to different components of allergenic extracts.…”