Sunflower seeds as eliciting agents of Compositae dermatitis

• Published in: Contact dermatitis Vol. 72; no. 3; pp. 172 - 177
• Main Authors: Paulsen, Evy, El-Houri, Rime B., Andersen, Klaus E., Christensen, Lars P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.2015; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: allergic contact dermatitis; Asteraceae; Chromatography; Compositae; Dermatitis; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact - etiology; Female; Helianthus; Helianthus annuus; Humans; Lactones - adverse effects; Lactones - analysis; Lactones - immunology; Male; Middle Aged; patch testing; Seeds; Seeds - adverse effects; Seeds - chemistry; Seeds - immunology; Sesquiterpenes - adverse effects; Sesquiterpenes - analysis; Sesquiterpenes - immunology; sunflower seeds; sunflower seeds; Helianthus annuus; Compositae; patch testing; allergic contact dermatitis; Asteraceae
• ISSN: 0105-1873; 1600-0536; 1600-0536
• DOI: 10.1111/cod.12326

Summary Background Sunflowers may cause dermatitis because of allergenic sesquiterpene lactones (SLs). Contact sensitization to sunflower seeds has also been reported, but the allergens are unknown. Objectives To analyse sunflower seeds for the presence of SLs and to assess the prevalence of sunflower sensitization in Compositae‐allergic individuals. Patients/materials/methods Sunflower‐sensitive patients were identified by aimed patch testing. A dichloromethane extract of whole sunflower seeds was analysed by liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry and high‐performance liquid chromatography. Results The prevalence of sensitivity to sunflower in Compositae‐allergic individuals was 56%. A solvent wash of whole sunflower seeds yielded an extract containing SLs, the principal component tentatively being identified as argophyllin A or B, other SLs being present in minute amounts. Conclusions The concentration of SLs on the sunflower seeds is considered high enough to elicit dermatitis in sensitive persons, and it seems appropriate to warn Compositae‐allergic subjects against handling sunflower seeds.