RESEARCH PAPER
Antigenic relationship between four airborne palm pollen grains from Calcutta, India.
			
	
 
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				Division of Palynology and Environmental Biology, Department of Botany, Bose Institute, Calcutta, India
				 
			 
										
				
				
		
		 
			
			
		
		
		
		
		
		
	
							
																				    		
    			 
    			
    				    					Corresponding author
    					    				    				
    					Sunirmal  Chanda   
    					Division of Palynology and Environmental Biology, Department of Botany, Bose Institute, 93/1 Acharya P.C. Road, Calcutta - 700 009, India
    				
 
    			
				 
    			 
    		 		
			
							 
		
	 
		
 
 
Ann Agric Environ Med. 1999;6(1):53-56
 
 
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ABSTRACT
The pollen grains of Areca catechu, Borassus flabellifer, Cocos nucifera and Phoenix sylvestris, all belonging to the family Aracaceae (Palmae), are airborne and found to be potent in causing human respiratory allergy. The present study was undertaken to discover the antigenic relationship, if any, in the four relevant palm pollen grains. The study was conducted by using Borassus and Phoenix antisera raised in rabbit. These antisera were used in rabbit IgG specific ELISA-inhibition and rocket immunoelectro-phoresis (RIE) assays for all four palm pollen extracts. In ELISA-inhibition, a distinct inhibition was obtained with comparable amount of soluble pollen protein. The RIE precipitin bands also revealed the presence of common antigenic components in the palm pollen. After isolation and purification, such common antigens may be useful in allergen immunotherapy in asthmatics.