Research Update:Pine Nuts.

  seminal trace...Pine Nut Extract.Pine Nut Kernel Extract.pinenut EXTRACT.Pinus strobus.Appetite Suppressant.Pine Nuts Extract.Pine Kernel Extract....

 


   Phytochemical info of Pine Nuts

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 Definition:Pine Nuts are majorly composed of
 Chemical information disclosed as following table:


   Research Update:Pine Nuts.

  Cytotoxicity and apoptosis enhancement in brain tumor cells upon coadministration of paclitaxel and ceramide in nanoemulsion formulations..:J Pharm Sci. 2007 Sep 13;Desai A, Vyas T, Amiji M.Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Northeastern University, 110 Mugar Life Sciences Building, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.

 The objective of this study was to examine augmentation of therapeutic activity in human glioblastoma cells with combination of paclitaxel (PTX) and the apoptotic signaling molecule, C(6)-ceramide (CER), when administered in novel oil-in-water nanoemulsions. The nanoemulsions were formulated with pine-nut oil, which has high concentrations of essential polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA). Drug-containing nanoemulsions were characterized for particle size, surface charge, and the particle morphology was examined with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Epi-fluorescent microscopy was used to analyze nanoemulsion-encapsulated rhodamine-labeled PTX and NBD-labeled CER uptake and distribution in U-118 human glioblastoma cells. Cell viability was assessed with the MTS (formazan) assay, while apoptotic activity of PTX and CER was evaluated with caspase-3/7 activation and flow cytometry. Nanoemulsion formulations with the oil droplet size of approximately 200 nm in diameter were prepared with PTX, CER, and combination of the two agents. When administered to U-118 cells, significant enhancement in cytotoxicity was observed with combination of PTX and CER as compared to administration of individual agents. The increase in cytotoxicity correlated with enhancement in apoptotic activity in cells treated with combination of PTX and CER. The results of these studies show that oil-in-water nanoemulsions can be designed with combination therapy for enhancement of cytotoxic effect in brain tumor cells. In addition, PTX and CER can be used together to augment therapeutic activity, especially in aggressive tumor models such as glioblastoma.

  Combined use of total metal content and size fractionation of metal biomolecules to determine the provenance of pine nuts (Pinus pinea).:Anal Bioanal Chem. 2007 Jul;388(5-6):1295-302. Epub 2007 May 31.G¨®mez-Ariza JL, Arias-Borrego A, Garc¨ªa-Barrera T.Departamento de Qu¨ªmica y Ciencias de los Materiales, Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales, Universidad de Huelva, Campus de El Carmen, Huelva, Spain. ariza@uhu.es

 Four essential elements (Mn, Ni, Zn, and Cu) and their molecular-size distribution patterns have been determined, for twenty four samples of pine nuts from eight areas in Spain and Portugal (Huelva, C¨¢diz, Badajoz, Catalu?a, Castilla, Madrid, Faro, and Coimbra), by size-exclusion liquid chromatography (SEC) coupled on-line to UV and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric (ICP-MS) detection. The variability observed in total element content and the size-exclusion profiles of elements in samples from distant areas were considered as chemical descriptors for characterization of geographic origin. A pattern-recognition technique, the display method principal component analysis, was used as visualization technique to determine the provenance of the pine nuts collected. The results obtained confirmed that size fractionation profiles give more information for assessing the provenance of pine nuts than the total elements composition traditionally used for this purpose. Combination of these chemical descriptors was the most suitable choice for the samples studied. Figure This paper shows the application of an analytical approach based on total elements concentrations and the relative abundance of metal-biomolecules, estimated by the size-exclusion fractions, as chemical descriptors to determine the provenance of pine nuts. Principal component analysis (PCA) has been used as a visualization technique.

  Fatty acid profile, tocopherol, squalene and phytosterol content of brazil, pecan, pine, pistachio and cashew nuts.:Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2006 May-Jun;57(3-4):219-28. Ryan E, Galvin K, O'Connor TP, Maguire AR, O'Brien NM.Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College, Cork, Ireland..

 Nuts contain bioactive constituents that elicit cardio-protective effects including phytosterols, tocopherols and squalene. The objective of the present study was to determine the total oil content, peroxide value, fatty acid composition and levels of tocopherols, squalene and phytosterols in oil extracted from freshly ground brazil, pecan, pine, pistachio and cashew nuts. The total oil content of the nuts ranged from 40.4 to 60.8% (w/w) while the peroxide values ranged from 0.14 to 0.22 mEq O2/kg oil. The most abundant monounsaturated fatty acid was oleic acid (C18:1), while linoleic acid (C18:2) was the most prevalent polyunsaturated fatty acid. The levels of total tocopherols ranged from 60.8 to 291.0 mg/g. Squalene ranged from 39.5 mg/g oil in the pine nut to 1377.8 mg/g oil in the brazil nut. beta-Sitosterol was the most prevalent phytosterol, ranging in concentration from 1325.4 to 4685.9 mg/g oil. In conclusion, the present data indicate that nuts are a good dietary source of unsaturated fatty acids, tocopherols, squalene and phytosterols.

  Total antioxidant capacity of spices, dried fruits, nuts, pulses, cereals and sweets consumed in Italy assessed by three different in vitro assays.:Mol Nutr Food Res. 2006 Nov;50(11):1030-8.Pellegrini N, Serafini M, Salvatore S, Del Rio D, Bianchi M, Brighenti F.Antioxidant Research Laboratory at the Unit of Human Nutrition, National Institute for Food and Nutrition Research, Rome, Italy. nicoletta.pellegrini@unipr.it

 With the aim to expand the Italian total antioxidant capacity (TAC) database, the TAC values of 11 spices, 5 dried fruits, 7 sweets, 18 cereal products, 5 pulses, and 6 nuts were determined using three different assays and considering the contribution of bound antioxidant compounds in fiber-rich foods (i. e. cereals, legumes, and nuts). Among spices, saffron displayed the highest antioxidant capacity, whereas among dried fruits, prune exhibited the highest value. The TAC values of all the chocolates analyzed were far higher than the other sweet extracts measured. Among cereal products, whole meal buckwheat and wheat bran had the greatest TAC. Among pulses and nuts, broad bean, lentil and walnuts had the highest antioxidant capacity, whereas chickpeas, pine nuts and peanuts were less effective. The contribution of bound phytochemicals to the overall TAC was relevant in cereals as well as in nuts and pulses. The complete TAC database could be utilized to properly investigate the role of dietary antioxidants in disease prevention.

  Mixed-up nuts: identification of peanuts and tree nuts by children..:Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2006 Jul;97(1):73-7.Ferdman RM, Church JA.Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90027, USA. rferdman@chla.usc.edu

 BACKGROUND: Peanuts and tree nuts frequently cause severe allergic reactions. Nut avoidance is the key treatment, and accurate identification of nuts is essential for successful avoidance. OBJECTIVES: To determine the age at which nut-allergic and nonallergic children can accurately identify various nuts and whether nut-allergic children can identify nuts they should avoid. METHODS: A "nut box" was constructed containing samples of 11 common nuts and pine nuts. Nut-allergic and nonallergic children were asked to identify the nuts, and their responses were compared and correlated by age. Nut-allergic children were asked to identify the nut(s) that they should not eat. RESULTS: One hundred children (37 allergic and 63 nonallergic) were enrolled. The mean number of nuts correctly identified was only 2.7 per child and increased with age, but there was large variation. Fifty-nine children identified 2 or fewer nuts. Peanuts in the shell were identified most often (89% of children), followed by peanuts out of the shell (52%). Other nuts were identified less commonly, ranging from 32% for pistachios to 0% for Brazil nuts. Nut-allergic children were not better able to correctly identify tree nuts and were less able in the case of peanuts. Of the nut-allergic children, 10 (27%) could not identify the peanut or tree nut to which they were allergic. CONCLUSIONS: In general, children, including those who are allergic to nuts, can identify few nuts. This lack of recognition could put them at increased risk for unintentional ingestion. As part of an overall educational plan, nut-allergic children should be taught not only to avoid but also to identify the nut to which they are allergic.


  Fire resistance of Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menzieesi) treated with borates and natural extractives.:Bioresour Technol. 2007 Mar;98(5):1101-5. Epub 2006 Jul 5.Baysal E, Altinok M, Colak M, Ozaki SK, Toker H.Mugla University, Faculty of Technical Education, Kotekli, Mugla 48000, Turkey. ergun69@yahoo.com

 The objective of this study was to determine fire resistance of Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menzieesi (Mirb.) Franco) specimens treated with borate supplemented aqueous solutions of brutia pine bark powder, acorn powder, sumach leaf powder, and gall-nut powder. Boric acid (BA) and borax (BX) were used as borates which are the most commonly used fire retardants in wood preservation industry. Natural extractives (brutia pine bark powder, sumach leaf powder, acorn powder, and gall-nut powder) were also used which have toxic efficiency against insects and fungi due to their tannin contents. A commercial treatment compound Tanalith-CBC (copper-borate-chromate), which is an impregnation chemical, is used for comparison. The fire test method was performed in three stages: flame stage, without flame stage, and glowing stage. Results indicated that the lowest temperature for flame stage, without flame stage, and glowing stage were obtained for specimens treated with BA and BX mixture (7:3; weight:weight). The lowest mass loss was found for the specimens treated with a mixture of BA and BX. Natural extractives did not improve fire resistance of the samples. However, boric acid and borax had excellent fire retardant effectiveness over untreated and treated samples with natural extractives.

  Chemical composition of selected edible nut seeds.:J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Jun 28;54(13):4705-14.Venkatachalam M, Sathe SK.Department of Nutrition, Food & Exercise Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306-1493, USA.

 Commercially important edible nut seeds were analyzed for chemical composition and moisture sorption. Moisture (1.47-9.51%), protein (7.50-21.56%), lipid (42.88-66.71%), ash (1.16-3.28%), total soluble sugars (0.55-3.96%), tannins (0.01-0.88%), and phytate (0.15-0.35%) contents varied considerably. Regardless of the seed type, lipids were mainly composed of mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids (>75% of the total lipids). Fatty acid composition analysis indicated that oleic acid (C18:1) was the main constituent of monounsaturated lipids in all seed samples. With the exception of macadamia, linoleic acid (C18:2) was the major polyunsaturated fatty acid. In the case of walnuts, in addition to linoleic acid (59.79%) linolenic acid (C18:3) also significantly contributed toward the total polyunsaturated lipids. Amino acid composition analyses indicated lysine (Brazil nut, cashew nut, hazelnut, pine nut, and walnut), sulfur amino acids methionine and cysteine (almond), tryptophan (macadamia, pecan), and threonine (peanut) to be the first limiting amino acid as compared to human (2-5 year old) amino acid requirements. The amino acid composition of the seeds was characterized by the dominance of hydrophobic (range = 37.16-44.54%) and acidic (27.95-33.17%) amino acids followed by basic (16.16-21.17%) and hydrophilic (8.48-11.74%) amino acids. Trypsin inhibitory activity, hemagglutinating activity, and proteolytic activity were not detected in the nut seed samples analyzed. Sorption isotherms (Aw range = 0.08-0.97) indicated a narrow range for monolayer water content (11-29 mg/g of dry matter). No visible mold growth was evident on any of the samples stored at Aw < 0.53 and 25 degrees C for 6 months.

  Efficiency of Siberian pine oil in complex treating of people ill with benign hypertension.:Vopr Pitan. 2006;75(1):51-3. Russian.Bakhtin IuV, Budaeva VV, Vereshchagin AL, Egorova EIu, Zhukova EIu, Saratikov AS.

 For people ill with benign hypertension and going through basis hypotensive therapy, taking in Siberian pine nut oil as much as 17,5 g per day, is accompanied by cholesterol-lessening effect, normalization of lipid spectrum of blood, systolic (maximum) benign pressure and lessening of surplus body mass.

  Surveillance on contamination of total aflatoxins in corn, peanut, rice, walnut and pine nut in several areas in China.:Zhonghua Yu Fang Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2006 Jan;40(1):33-7. Chinese.Wang J, Liu XM.Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100050, China.

 OBJECTIVE: To realize the contamination of total aflatoxins in corn, peanut, rice, walnut and pine nut in China, and provide the base data for establishing a China tolerance limit standard and an international control practice for total aflatoxins. METHODS: The samples of corn, peanut, rice, walnut and pine nut from Chongqing, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hubei, Jiangsu, Shanghai and Zhejiang provinces and municipalities were collected randomly from markets, with the totally 284 samples. The samples were grounded and added to acetonitrile/water mixture. After filtering, the extract was transferred into a purifying column and pressed slowly. Then the purified liquid was derivatizated with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and detected by using a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). RESULTS: There was 70.27% corn having been detected out an average level of aflatoxins of 36.51 microg/kg and the highest level was 1098.36 microg/kg. At the same time, there was 14.86% corn exceeding the China national tolerance limit. In peanut, the aflatoxins detected rate was 24.24%. The average level was 80.27 microg/kg and the highest level was 437.09 microg/kg. While there was 3.03% peanut exceeding the China national and Codex tolerance limits. All of the rice, walnut and pine nut samples met the China tolerance limit for aflatoxins. CONCLUSION: Corn and peanut might be the severely contaminated foods with aflatoxins in China. The aflatoxin B(1) in foods might be can not delegate the contamination of aflatoxins completely. Surveillance of total aflatoxins in foods suggested an actual need of establishing the China national and international standards for total aflatoxins.

  Speciation of arsenic in different types of nuts by ion chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.:J Agric Food Chem. 2004 Mar 24;52(6):1458-63.Kannamkumarath SS, Wr¨®bel K, Wr¨®bel K, Caruso JA.Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-1072, USA.

 In this work the quantitative determination and analytical speciation of arsenic were undertaken in different types of nuts, randomly purchased from local markets. The hardness of the whole nuts and high lipid content made the preparation of this material difficult for analysis. The lack of sample homogeneity caused irreproducible results. To improve the precision of analysis, arsenic was determined separately in nut oil and in the defatted sample. The lipids were extracted from the ground sample with the two portions of a mixture of chloroform and methanol (2:1). The defatted material was dried and ground again, yielding a fine powder. The nut oil was obtained by combining the two organic extracts and by evaporating the solvents. The two nut fractions were microwave digested, and total arsenic was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results obtained for oils from different types of nuts showed element concentration in the range 2.9-16.9 ng g(-)(1). Lower levels of arsenic were found in defatted material (<0.1 ng g(-)(1) with the exception of Brazil nuts purchased with and without shells, 3.0 and 2.8 ng g(-)(1) respectively). For speciation analysis of arsenic in nut oils, elemental species were extracted from 2 g of oil with 12 mL of chloroform/methanol (2:1) and 8 mL of deionized water. The aqueous layer, containing polar arsenic species, was evaporated and the residue dissolved and analyzed by ion chromatography-ICP-MS. The anion exchange chromatography enabled separation of As(III), dimethylarsinic acid (DMAs(V)), monomethylarsonic acid (MMAs(V)), and As(V) within 8 min. Several types of nuts were analyzed, including walnuts, Brazil nuts, almonds, cashews, pine nuts, peanuts, pistachio nuts, and sunflower seeds. The recovery for the speciation procedure was in the range 72.7-90.6%. The primary species found in the oil extracts were As(III) and As(V). The arsenic concentration levels in these two species were 0.7-12.7 and 0.5-4.3 ng g(-)(1), respectively. The contribution of As in DMAs(V) ranged from 0.1 +/- 0.1 ng g(-)(1) in walnuts to 1.3 +/- 0.3 ng g(-)(1) in pine nuts. MMAs(V) was not detected in almonds, peanuts, pine nuts, sunflower seeds, or walnuts, and the highest concentration was found in pistachio nuts (0.5 +/- 0.2 ng g(-)(1)).


  Vitamin K content of nuts and fruits in the US diet.:J Am Diet Assoc. 2003 Dec;103(12):1650-2. Dismore ML, Haytowitz DB, Gebhardt SE, Peterson JW, Booth SL.Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA.

 Assessment of vitamin K dietary intakes has been limited by incomplete vitamin K food composition data for the US food supply. The phylloquinone (vitamin K(1)) concentrations of nuts (n=76) and fruits (n=215) were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Each sample represented a composite of units obtained from 12 to 24 outlets, which provided geographic representation of the US food supply. With the exception of pine nuts and cashews, which contain 53.9 and 34.8 microg of phylloquinone per 100 g of nut, respectively, nuts are not important dietary sources of vitamin K. Similarly, most fruits are not important sources of vitamin K, with the exception of some berries, green fruits, and prunes. Menu planning for patients on warfarin can include a healthy diet including fruits and nuts without compromising the stability of their oral anticoagulation therapy.

  Tree nut allergens.:Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2003 Aug;131(4):234-44. Review.Roux KH, Teuber SS, Sathe SK.Department of Biological Science and Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Fla. 32306-4370, USA. roux@bio.fsu.edu

 Allergic reactions to tree nuts can be serious and life threatening. Considerable research has been conducted in recent years in an attempt to characterize those allergens that are most responsible for allergy sensitization and triggering. Both native and recombinant nut allergens have been identified and characterized and, for some, the IgE-reactive epitopes described. Some allergens, such as lipid transfer proteins, profilins, and members of the Bet v 1-related family, represent minor constituents in tree nuts. These allergens are frequently cross-reactive with other food and pollen homologues, and are considered panallergens. Others, such as legumins, vicilins, and 2S albumins, represent major seed storage protein constituents of the nuts. The allergenic tree nuts discussed in this review include those most commonly responsible for allergic reactions such as hazelnut, walnut, cashew, and almond as well as those less frequently associated with allergies including pecan, chestnut, Brazil nut, pine nut, macadamia nut, pistachio, coconut, Nangai nut, and acorn.

  Anaphylaxis induced by pine nuts in two young girls.:Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2003 Aug;14(4):317-9.Ib¨¢?ez MD, Lombardero M, San Ireneo MM, Mu?oz MC.Servicio de Alergia, Hospital Universitario Ni?o Jes¨²s, Madrid, Spain. dibanezs@medynet.com

 Pine nuts are the seeds of Pinus pinea. There are few reported cases of allergy to pine nut. We describe two young girls with anaphylaxis caused by small amounts of pine nuts. Specific IgE to pine nut was demonstrated by skin prick tests and RAST but no IgE to other nuts and pine pollen was detected. The patients had IgE against a pine nut protein band with apparent molecular weights of approximately 17 kDa that could be considered as the main allergen. Our patients were monosensitized to pine nut and the 17-kDa protein could be correlated with the severe clinical symptoms.

  Allergy to pine nut.:Allergol Immunopathol (Madr). 2002 Mar-Apr;30(2):104-8.A MA, Maselli JP, Sanz Mf ML, Fern¨¢ndez-Ben¨ªtez M.Departamento de Alergolog¨ªa e Inmunolog¨ªa Cl¨ªnica, Cl¨ªnica Universitaria de Navarra, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.

 Background: food allergy is highly prevalent in our environment, especially among atopic patients. Pinus pinea is common in our region and its fruit, the pine nut, is allergologically important. Several cases have been reported in the literature that demonstrate the existence of common antigenic bands between pine nut and almond. In this study we try to assess this finding and the possible existence of common allergens by in vitro techniques.Methods and results: we present a 10-year-old boy, previously diagnosed of seasonal rhinoconjunctivitis with sensitisation to grass and olive pollen, who had an anaphylactic reaction after eating pine nut. We performed in vivo (prick test, prick-by-prick) and in vitro tests (total and specific IgE determinations [CAP-FEIA]), histamine release test, and immunoblotting (SDS-PAGE). We also reviewed the literature through the MEDLINE database in PubMed.Conclusions: because pine nut is commonly consumed in our environment, the prevalence of allergic reactions is probably considerable and these reactions take place at an early age. We demonstrate the existence of common antigenic proteins between pine nut and peanuts.

  A 17-kDa allergen detected in pine nuts.:Allergy. 2000 Mar;55(3):291-3.Garc¨ªa-Menaya JM, Gonzalo-Garijo MA, Moneo I, Fern¨¢ndez B, Garc¨ªa-Gonz¨¢lez F, Moreno F.Allergy Department, Hospital Infanta Cristina, Badajoz, Spain.

 BACKGROUND: Few cases of allergy to pine nuts have been described. We report a case of anaphylactic reaction to pine nuts. The patient needed to be treated in the emergency room due to a systemic reaction immediately after eating pine nuts. METHODS: The patient was studied by prick tests and prick by prick tests. Specific IgE was measured by CAP and by SDS-PAGE/immunoblotting by a diffusion method. RESULTS: The patient showed positive prick by prick tests to pine nuts (12 mm of maximum wheal diameter). Specific IgE was positive (0.79 kU/l). The patient's serum recognized several proteins by immunoblot. However, a 17-kDa allergen band was detected with high intensity. This protein was found to be sensitive to reducing agents, losing its IgE-binding properties after reduction. CONCLUSIONS: The patient presented an IgE-mediated reaction and detected a 17-kDa protein from pine nuts not previously described.


  Radionuclides in pinon pine (Pinus edulis) nuts from Los Alamos National Laboratory lands and the dose from consumption.:J Environ Sci Health B. 2000 Sep;35(5):611-22.Fresquez PR, Huchton JD, Mullen MA, Naranjo L Jr.Environment, Safety and Health Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, NM 87545, USA.

 One of the dominant tree species growing within and around the eastern portion of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM, lands is the pinon pine (Pinus edulis). Pinon pine is used for firewood, fence posts, and building materials and is a source of nuts for food--the seeds are consumed by a wide variety of animals and are also gathered by people in the area and eaten raw or roasted. This study investigated the (1) concentration of 3H, 137Cs, 90Sr, totU, 238Pu, 239,240Pu, and 241Am in soils (0- to 12-in. [31 cm] depth underneath the tree), pinon pine shoots (PPS), and pinon pine nuts (PPN) collected from LANL lands and regional background (BG) locations, (2) committed effective dose equivalent (CEDE) from the ingestion of nuts, and (3) soil to PPS to PPN concentration ratios (CRs). Most radionuclides, with the exception of 3H in soils, were not significantly higher (p < 0.10) in soils, PPS, and PPN collected from LANL as compared to BG locations, and concentrations of most radionuclides in PPN fromLANL have decreased over time. The maximum net CEDE (the CEDE plus two sigma minus BG) at the most conservative ingestion rate (10 lb [4.5 kg]) was 0.0018 mrem (0.018 microSv); this is far below the International Commission on Radiological Protection (all pathway) permissible dose limit of 100 mrem (1000 microSv). Soil-to-nut CRs for most radionuclides were within the range of default values in the literature for common fruits and vegetables.

  Anaphylaxis to pine nuts and immunological cross-reactivity with pine pollen proteins.:J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 2000 Jan-Feb;10(1):44-6.Senna G, Roncarolo D, Dama A, Mistrello G.Clinical Chemistry and Hematology Laboratory, Azienda Ospedaliera di Verona, Italy.

 Despite the wide use of pine nuts, the fruit of Pinus pinea, only a few reports of allergic reactions to them have been published. We present herein a case of food allergy to pine nuts in a patient who showed no clinical symptoms to pine pollen despite the presence in her serum of specific IgE antibodies. In order to verify whether the reaction against pine nuts was IgE mediated, specific IgE against pine nuts and pollen were evaluated by skin-prick test, prick by prick and RAST. Immunoblotting and immunoblotting-inhibition were used to evaluate the allergenic components of both extracts and their cross-reactivity. Prick by prick with fresh pine nuts and RAST with pine nut and pine pollen extracts showed that the patient had high levels of specific IgE against both extracts. Immunoblotting experiments showed the presence in serum of IgE antibodies against several components in pine nuts and pollen. Immunoblotting-inhibition experiments demonstrated the presence of some cross-reacting components. These data confirm the existence of food allergy induced by pine nuts. This sensitization to pine nuts developed with no symptoms of pine pollinosis. Development of pollinosis may require a longer time of exposure to allergens. Based on the cross-reactivity between pine nut and pine pollen extracts, cosensitization to these two allergens could be possible.

  Allergy to pine nuts in a bird fancier.:Allergy. 1996 Oct;51(10):741-4.Jansen A, Vermeulen A, Dieges PH, van Toorenenbergen AW.Department of Allergology, University Hospital Dijkzigt, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

 A patient is described with the bird-egg syndrome who experienced an anaphylactic reaction after eating some of her parrot's food (pine nuts: Pinus pinea). Specific IgE against this nut and another pine nut (P. cembra) was demonstrated by RAST. Cross-reactivity between these botanically related seeds was shown by RAST inhibition. Besides avian antigens, bird food antigens should be taken into consideration when symptoms of allergy occur on exposure to birds.

  Systemic allergic reaction after ingestion of pine nuts, Pinus pinea.:Ugeskr Laeger. 1990 Nov 26;152(48):3619-20. Danish.Nielsen NH.Lunge og allergiklinikken, Frederiksberg Hospital.

 An in vivo open oral provocation with pine nuts (Pinus pinea) confirmed information about systemic reaction after ingestion of pine nuts. In vitro tests suggested a systemic IgE allergic reaction. Pine nuts are employed in sweets and cakes and, as in the present case, in green salads.


  Scientific References:

  1.Research Update:Pine Nuts.