Conocimiento y uso de plantas medicinales por parte de los usuarios de una zona básica de salud de Gran Canaria / Knowledge and use of medicinal plants by the users of a basic health área of Gran Canaria (Spain)

Objetivos y mediciones: averiguar que plantas medicinales conocen los usuarios de la zona básica de salud de Ingenio (Gran Canaria), su frecuencia del consumo, las especies más utilizadas, su procedencia, las indicaciones y la satisfacción con su uso, mediante una encuesta a los 5 primeros pacientes de cada día durante 3 semanas en el mes marzo. Resultados: 354 encuestas. Edad media 48,31+/- 16,9. Porcentaje de consumo: cerca del 30% en menores de 40 años y del 70% en mayores de 40 años. Plantas más citadas: manzanilla (47,9%), tila (28,3%), poleo (25,8%), hierbaluisa (19,5%) y valeriana (16,1%). El 41,2% habían consumido alguna planta medicinal la semana anterior y el 62,7% el año anterior. Usos: ansiedad (26,3%), trastornos digestivos (19,8%), síntomas catarrales-gripales (18,7%) y "por gusto" (12,9%). Procedencia: supermercado (42,7%), recogida en el campo (25,5%), mercado (12,5%), herbolario (12,3%) y farmacia (7%). Conclusiones: constatamos un alto consumo de plantas medicinales en la zona estudiada. Tanto las plantas medicinales más usadas como los motivos coinciden con otros estudios similares. Consideramos necesario un mayor conocimiento de las plantas medicinales por parte de los médicos de familia (AU)

Objectives and measurements: To know which medicinal plants are known to the users of the basic health área of Ingenio (Gran Canaria), the frequency of consumption, the most used species, where the herbs are obtained, the uses and satisfaction with their use, through a survey done with the 5 first patients of the day, along 3 weeks in March. Results: 354 surveys were completed. Mean age 48.31+/- 16.9. consumption percentages: ca. 30% in younger than 40 years and ca. 70% in older than 40 years. Most cited plants: chamomile (47.9%), lime flower (28.3%) pennyroyal (25.8%) valerian (19.5%) and lemon verbena (16.1%). 41.2% had used one PM the previous week and 62.7% the previous year. Uses anxiety (26.3%), digestive disorders (19.8%), flu-like cold symptoms (18.7%) and "fruition" (12.9%). Place obtention: supermarket (42.7%), field collection (25.5%), market (12.5%) Pharmacy (12.3%) Herbalist (7%). Conclusions: We found high consumption of medicinal plants in the studied health area. The medicinal plants used and the reasonsfor use found in the present study are consistent with other similar studies. There is a need of greater knowledge on medicinal plants by family physicians (AU)

Effect of German chamomile oil application on alleviating atopic dermatitis-like immune alterations in mice.

Historically, German chamomile (GC) oil has been used for treatment of skin disorders. BALB/c mice were sensitized twice a week with 100 microL of 1% 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) and challenged twice the following week with 100 microL of 0.2% DNCB for atopic dermatitis induction. Thereafter, 3% GC oil was applied daily (70 microL, 6 times week) on the dorsal skin for 4 weeks. Saline or jojoba oil was used for the control mice. Blood was collected after second DNCB challenge, and at 2 and 4 weeks after initiating oil application. Serum IgE levels were significantly lowered in the GC oil application group at the end of the 4-week application period. The GC oil application for 4 weeks resulted in reduction in serum IgG1 level compared with that after 2-week application. The GC oil application group showed a significantly lower serum histamine level than the control group 2 weeks after oil application. Scratching frequency of the GC oil application group was significantly lower than either control groups. This study is to demonstrate GC oil's immunoregulatory potential for alleviating atopic dermatitis through influencing of Th2 cell activation.

Effect of German chamomile oil application on alleviating atopic dermatitis-like immune alterations in mice

Historically, German chamomile (GC) oil has been used for treatment of skin disorders. BALB/c mice were sensitized twice a week with 100 microL of 1% 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) and challenged twice the following week with 100 microliter of 0.2% DNCB for atopic dermatitis induction. Thereafter, 3% GC oil was applied daily (70 microliter, 6 times week) on the dorsal skin for 4 weeks. Saline or jojoba oil was used for the control mice. Blood was collected after second DNCB challenge, and at 2 and 4 weeks after initiating oil application. Serum IgE levels were significantly lowered in the GC oil application group at the end of the 4-week application period. The GC oil application for 4 weeks resulted in reduction in serum IgG1 level compared with that after 2-week application. The GC oil application group showed a significantly lower serum histamine level than the control group 2 weeks after oil application. Scratching frequency of the GC oil application group was significantly lower than either control groups. This study is to demonstrate GC oil's immunoregulatory potential for alleviating atopic dermatitis through influencing of Th2 cell activation.

Acute, short-lasting rhinitis due to camomile-scented toilet paper in patients allergic to compositae.

A 20-year-old woman with a proven allergy to camomile suffered from short-lasting rhinitis when using a camomile-scented toilet paper. The prick-by-prick test performed with the toilet paper was positive. Diagnosis was confirmed by a challenge test that also resulted positive. This is the first reported case of toilet-paper-induced acute rhinitis. The removal of the toilet paper from the bathroom was sufficient to obtain the disappearance of symptoms. Patients allergic to camomile should avoid a camomile-scented toilet paper.

Clinical cross-reactivity between Artemisia vulgaris and Matricaria chamomilla (chamomile).

Artemisia vulgaris is a common weed and an important source of allergens on the subtropical island of Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. It pollinates mainly from July to September, although, due to some local climatic conditions, it may flower throughout the year. Cross-reactivity with hazelnut, kiwi, birch, several Compositae (Ambrosia, Chrysanthemum, Matricaria, Solidago) and grass allergens has been suggested. Few studies have addressed the issue of in vivo cross-reactivity between A. vulgaris and Matricaria chamomilla. The objective of this study was to perform conjunctival and bronchial challenges with A. vulgaris and M. chamomilla and oral challenge with chamomile in 24 patients with asthma and/or rhinitis sensitized primarily to A. vulgaris. Skin prick tests with M. chamomilla were positive in 21 patients. Eighteen patients had a positive conjunctival provocation test with a A. vulgaris pollen extract and 13 patients had a positive conjunctival provocation test with a M. chamomilla pollen extract. Bronchial provocation tests with A. vulgaris were positive in 15 patients and with M. chamomilla pollen in another 16 individuals. Oral provocation tests, conducted with a commercial chamomile infusion were positive in 13 patients. Nine of these individuals were skin test positive to food allergens and 17 to others pollens of the Compositae family. This study confirms a high degree of in vivo cross-reactivity between A. vulgaris and M. chamomilla. Sensitization to A. vulgaris seems to be a primary risk factor for experiencing symptoms after the ingestion of chamomile infusions. Based on the results of bronchial provocation tests, M. chamomilla pollen could be a relevant inhalant allergen.

Anaphylaxis to camomile: clinical features and allergen cross-reactivity.

BACKGROUND: Medicinal remedies of plant origin became very popular in recent years, and allergic reactions to these are on the rise, accordingly. Camomile has been reported as a potential trigger of severe anaphylaxis. The allergens responsible for camomile allergy have not been characterized as yet. OBJECTIVE: The present study aims at reviewing the clinical symptomatology of immediate-type reactions in a series of patients sensitized to camomile and at characterizing the responsible allergens. METHODS: Fourteen patients with a history of allergy either to camomile or to spices or weeds, and a positive skin prick test/RAST to camomile were investigated for related allergic reactions to food, pollen and others. IgE-binding patterns were determined by immunoblotting, inhibition tests and deglycosylation experiments. RESULTS: Ten of 14 patients had a clinical history of immediate-type reactions to camomile, in some cases life threatening. Eleven subjects were also sensitized to mugwort in prick or RAST, eight to birch tree pollen. Using a polyclonal rabbit anti-Bet v 1 antibody, a homologue of the major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 was detected in two camomile blots. In four cases a group of higher molecular weight allergens (23-50 kDa) showed IgE-binding to camomile. All allergens proved heat stable. Binding was inhibited in variable degrees by extracts from celery roots, anize seeds and pollen from mugwort, birch and timothy grass. Deglycosylation experiments proved the presence of carbohydrate determinants in camomile which were not responsible for IgE-binding, though. Profilins (Bet v 2) were not detected in our camomile extracts. CONCLUSION: Incidence and risk of type I allergy to camomile may be underestimated. Concurrent sensitization to mugwort and birch pollen is not infrequent. Bet v 1 and noncarbohydrate higher molecular weight proteins were found to be eliciting allergens and are responsible for cross-reactivity with other foods and pollen.