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Cedar

Cedar

Cedar Scientific Information
Type: Whole Allergen
Display Name: Cedar
Allergen code: t212
Family: Cupressaceae
Latin Name: Libocedrus decurrens
Other Names: Cedar tree, Incense-cedar; White cedar, California incense-cedar
Synonyms: Calocedrus decurrens

Clinical Relevance

IgE-mediated reactions

Anecdotal evidence suggests that Incense-cedar tree pollen can induce asthma, allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis; however, few studies have been reported to date.

A 40-year-old woman reported having experienced rhinitis and conjunctivitis since the age of 12 years. She experienced intense allergic symptoms while in close proximity to incense-cedar trees. A skin-prick test and serum IgE antibody test for cypress tree were both positive. A crude extract prepared from the cones of Incense cedar were used for a skin-prick test which resulted in a very strong positive reaction. The IgE antibody concentration to incense-cedar was 5.2 RAST arbitrary units. An incense-cedar pollen challenge resulted in the immediate onset of sneezing, rhinorrhoea, nasal obstruction, redness of the conjunctiva, and tearing and itching of the eyes. A challenge with cypress pollen extract was negative.

Other reactions

Cases of dermatitis from cedar-wood pencils have been described; reactions may be due to the presence of thymoquinone, thymoquinol and carvacrol in the wood.

References
  1. Cavagni G, Caffarelli C, Spattini A, Riva G. IgE-mediated allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis caused by Calocedrus decurrens (incense cedar). Allergy 2003;58(11):1201-2.
  2. Maeda Y, Ono E, Fukutomi Y, Taniguchi M, Akiyama K. Correlations between Alder Specific IgE and Alder-related Tree Pollen Specific IgE by RAST Method. Allergol Int 2008;57(1):79-81.
  3. Zavarin E, Anderson AB. Extractive components from incense-cedar heartwood (Libocedrus decurrens Torrey). I. Occurrence of carvacrol, hydrothymoquinone, and thymoquinone. Journal of Organic Chemistry 1955;20:82-8.
  4. Yman L. Botanical relations and immunological cross-reactions in pollen allergy. 2nd ed. Pharmacia Diagnostics AB. Uppsala. Sweden. 1982: ISBN 91-970475-09.
  5. Alisi C, Afferni C, Iacovacci P, Barletta B, Tinghino R, et al. Rapid isolation, characterization, and glycan analysis of Cup a 1, the major allergen of Arizona cypress (Cupressus arizonica) pollen. Allergy 2001;56(10):978-84.
  6. Calnan CD. Dermatitis from cedar wood pencils. Trans St Johns Hosp Dermatol Soc 1972;58(1):43-7.