Jujube
Clinical Relevance
IgE-mediated reactions
Anecdotal evidence suggests that Jujube may induce symptoms of food allergy such as urticaria, angioedema, rhinoconjunctivitis, dyspnoea, and wheezing in sensitised individuals; however, few studies have been reported to date.
Two patients described were jujube- and latex-allergic. Both patients had positive skin-test responses and specific IgE assays to Indian jujube and latex extracts. Jujube was shown to be cross-reactive with latex.
Urticaria, angioedema, rhinoconjunctivitis, dyspnoea, wheezing, abdominal pain, and diarrhoea were reported in a 38-year-old latex- and food-allergic nurse after she ate jujube fruit. Her prior food allergy was to banana, chestnut, kiwi and avocado. This co-sensitisation is typical of ‘latex-fruit syndrome’
Other reactions
Perforation of the small bowel due to the pointed pit of the jujube fruit has been described.
Cross-Reactivity
An extensive cross-reactivity among the different individual species of the genus could be expected.
In a study of 2 subjects, both allergic to jujube and latex, cross-reactivity between latex and jujube was demonstrated. The authors suggest that jujube is therefore part of ‘latex-fruit syndrome’.
References
- Alvarado MI, Moneo I, Gonzalo MA, Alvarez-Eire M, Díaz-Perales A. Allergy to azufaifa fruit and latex. Allergy. 2002;57(5):460-1.
- Lee MF, Chen YH, Lan JL, Tseng CY, Wu CH. Allergenic components of Indian jujube (Zizyphus mauritiana) show IgE cross-reactivity with latex allergen. International archives of allergy and immunology. 2004;133(3):211-6.
- Alcantara M, Bartolome E, Pagan JA, et al. Allergy to azufaifo (Ziziphus jujuba) a case of hypersensitivity infrequent. [Abstract] Allergy 2002;55:228.
- Lavers GD, Feldmayer JE. JUJUBE. A CASE OF PERFORATED BOWEL. California medicine. 1964;101(3):206-7.
- Lee MF, Hwang GY, Chen YH, Lin HC, Wu CH. Molecular cloning of Indian jujube (Zizyphus mauritiana) allergen Ziz m 1 with sequence similarity to plant class III chitinases. Molecular immunology. 2006;43(8):1144-51.
- Lee MF, Tsai JJ, Hwang GY, Lin SJ, Chen YH. Identification of immunoglobulin E (IgE)-binding epitopes and recombinant IgE reactivities of a latex cross-reacting Indian jujube Ziz m 1 allergen. Clinical and experimental immunology. 2008;152(3):464-71.
- L Y. Botanical relations and immunological cross-reactions in pollen allergy. 2nd ed Pharmacia Diagnostics AB Uppsala Sweden. 1982.