Allergen profile

Allergen: Mugwort Family name: Composite Scientific name: Artemisia vulgaris L. Family name latin: Asteraceae   Description: Sometimes reaching over 2 m in height, this plant has a bush-like growth with many branches; feathery leaves dark green on top and white and tomentose beneath, basal auriculate, the upper ones also are deeply serrated; capitula green to brown colored; perennial plant; anemogamous; flowering season VII - IX; old synanthropic plant, is sometimes also used as an edible vegetable, or healing and spice plant; the cineole in the oil has an anthelmintic effect;   Occurence: Widly spread and frequently found in shrubby weed fields, by pathsides, on riverbanks and in river brush upt to a height of 800 m;   Related species: Artemisia absinthium L., (commom) wormwood; originating from Asia, relatively rarely to be found in weed communities on rubble piles (VII - IX); Artemisia dracunculus L., estragon; a spice plant origninating from Siberia; cultivated but also gone wild here and there (VIII - X); Artemisia maritima L. ; widespread along the coast of the North Sea, scattered along the Baltic coastline (VII - X);   Allergy trigger: Pollen, ca. 15 - 20 µm;   Invasions path: Inhalative (June - November);   Synonyms: Motherwort;   Allergology: Mugwort is one of the most important inhalative allergens; the mugwort pollen allergy is the most prominent herb pollen allergy . Although the concentration of pollen in the air does not reach the density of the grass pollen concentration, the allergenic potency is so strong that only 13 pollen per cubic meter of air suffice to trigger clinical symptoms. There is a strong cross-allergenicity to other artemisia species (z. B. W 5) as well as to other species from the composite family, i.e. ambrosia, dandelion, sunflower, and daisies. Mugwort pollen is furthermore considered to be the "chief allergen" for nutritive allergies to umbellate spices and vegetables; i.e. anise, dill, fenchel, carrot, coriander, lovage, caraway and celery. This correlation is known under the term "celery-carrot-mugwort-spice syndrome". The indication for a specific hyposensitization treatment is considered to be evident when, in spite of optimal symptomatic therapy, clinically current sensitization to mugwort pollen is evident and a persistantly marked symptom complex endures.   Immunology: Primary allergen: Art v I, MW 47,000; Art v II, MW 20,000/35,000; Art v III, MW 30,000 – 35,000; additional allergens: at least four further proteins;   Exposure from: June   Exposure to: November   Clinical relevance: heavy   Cross reactivities: Occurrence frequently Aniseed Carrots Sunflower, common Daisy, moon Chamomille, German Curry Ragweed, western Ragweed, common Ragweed, giant Celery Occurrence possible Mango Tomato Ryegrass, perennial Birch, Weeping Pea Paprika, condiment Pepper Caraway seed Dill Latex Kiwi Peanut Dandelion Apple Coriander Absinthe Pear Peach Olive Timothy Fennel seed Hazelnut