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Plants containing allergens 1. Paper mulberry (hay fever)  Broussonetia papyrifera paper mulberry is a species of flowering plant in the family Moraceae. This plant is native to Asia and is cultivated abundantly in India, China, Japan, Korea and Thailand. This is a deciduous shrub or tree usually grows 10-20 m in height. Its pollen is allergic and causes Allergic rhinitis. In Pakistan this tree is most abundant in Islamabad. This allergy caused by pollens may be seasonal or perennial. When pollens of any plants cause allergy this is called pollinosis and if it is specifically caused by grass pollens it is called Hay fever. Theses pollens act as usual allergen and trigger the Immunoglobin E response which causes the allergy. Some other plants causing Hay fever or Allergic rhinitis are Pines, Dogwood, Red maple, Ambrosia, Rumex and many others. Symptoms  • Sneezing • Itchy and watery eyes, eyelid swelling, lower eyelid venous stasis (rings und...

Plants containing allergens What are allergens? An allergen is any exogenous substance usually an antigen, which produces an abnormally vigorous immune response by triggering the production of specific Immunoglobin E IgE antibodies produced by activated B-lymphocytes cells. This activated immune response fights off a perceived threat that would otherwise be harmless to the body. Such immune reactions in response to the allergen are called as allergies. Mode of action Allergens are protein in nature and their activity depends upon their ability to interact with specific IgE antibodies. These IgE antibodies bind to the surface of the mast cells via IgE receptors, this occurs when first time an allergy prone person comes across an allergen.  Upon re-exposure the allergen binds the already bounded IgE and activates the mast cells releasing a variety of vasoactive mediators causing a hypersensitivity reaction and the symptoms of allergy.  Mast cells are the r...