Herbs

Herba (lat.), herb, herbs

Collective term for 1, 2 or perennial non-lignifying plants which are used both as culinary herbs and as medicinal herbs. In addition there are the ecologically adaptable weeds (also called weeds). Herbaceous plants with non-lignifying or only slightly lignifying plants, whose above-ground parts die after each vegetation phase, are to be delimited conceptually.

IgE-mediated sensitization by herbal pollen is found in the families of the asteraceae, plantain, nettle, foxtail, spurge, etc. Herbal pollen allergy.

Of particular allergological importance is the grape herb (ragweed), which was introduced from America and is now widespread in South and Eastern Europe. Since herbs belong to different botanical groups, they have a different allergen spectrum with major allergens from different protein families.

Overall, the frequency of sensitization to herbal pollen varies from region to region. In certain regions, it can be > 50% in pollen allergy sufferers.

Common allergy-causing herbs are:

• Grapevine (Ambrosia artemislifolia)
• Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata)
• Goosefoot plants (Chenopodium)
• Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)
• Sorrel (Rumex acetosa)
• Glasswort (Parietaria judaica, Parietaria officinalis)
• Saltcabbage (Salsola kali)
• Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
• Horsetail (Mercuralis annua)
• Amaranth (Amaranthus retroflexus)

1. Boehme MW et al (2013) Respiratory symptoms and sensitization to airborne pollen of ragweed and mugwort of adults in Southwest Germany. German Med Weekly 138:1651-1658.
2. Gadermaier G et al. (2015) Marker allergens of herbal pollen: diagnostic use in daily clinical practice. In: Kleine-Tebbe J et al. Hrsg Molecular allergy diagnostics. Springer Publishing House Berlin-Heidelberg S 195-204
3. Vaquero C et al (2013) Airborne pollen of allergenic herb species in Toledo (Spain). Environ Monit Assess 185:335-346.