Allergic spices

Suppression of NF-kappaB has also been observed with a wide variety of phytochemicals found in common spices and food plants.28 It is likely that the clinical anti-allergic action found in this clinical study is due to the combined activity of many phytochemicals in all three botanical ingredients. 

Kanerva, L., Estlander, T., and Jolanki, R. 1996. Occupational allergic contact dermatitis from spices. Contact Dermatitis 35 157-162. 

Moneret-Vautrin DA, Morisset M, Lemerdy P, Croizier A, Kanny G. Food allergy and IgE sensitization caused by spices CICBAA data (based on 589 cases of food allergy). Allerg Immunol (Paris) 2002 34(4) 135-40. 

Of about 1000 patients with occupational skin diseases, five had occupational allergic contact dermatitis from spices (11). They were chefs or workers in kitchens, coffee rooms, and restaurants. In all cases the dermatitis affected the hands. The causative spices were garlic, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and clove. The same patients had positive patch-test reactions to carrot, lettuce, and tomato. 

Among 1000 food service workers that visited a dermatological clinic between 1991 and 1995, five had occupational allergic contact dermatitis from spices. Allspice was confirmed as one of the causative spices (Kanerva et al. 1996). 

Jiang, X., K.M. Williams, W.S. Liauw, et al. 2005. Effect of ginkgo and ginger on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of warfarin in healthy subjects. Br.. Clin. Pharmacol. 59(4) 425-432. Kanerva, L., T. Estlander, and R. Jolanki. 1996. Occupational allergic contact dermatitis from spices. Contact Dermat. 35(3) 157-162. Kang, S.C., C.M. Lee, H. Choi, et al. 2006. Evaluation of oriental medicinal herbs for estrogenic and antiproliferative activities. Phytother. Res. 20(11) 1017-1019. 

As a constituent of the oils of some flowers, spices and cranberries, benzoic acid also occurs naturally. It has some antimycotic (6% in Whitfeld ointment) and antibiotic properties and is capable of producing immediate contact reactions (immunological and non-immunological) in the same concentrations (Bas-ketter and Wilhelm 1996 Coverly et al. 1998). The patch-test concentration is 5% pet. Allergic reactions are considered uncommon. 

Many spices are plant derived and may cause allergic contact dermatitis. A worker in a foodprocessing plant reacted to carnosol extracted from rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) [296]. Sensitivity to spices is covered in more detail in the section entitled Bakers, Chefs and Salad Makers, Sixty spice grinders studied had no allergic skin problems [297], and while I have seen food-processing workers who were allergic to spices, the problem is probably not common. 

For more than a century, spices have been known to cause contact dermatitis. In the first half of this century, spices were reported as significant causes of allergic contact dermatitis, especially in bakers and confectioners. In addition to delayed-type contact allergies, spices may also cause immediate allergies (Niinim i et al. 1981 Thiel and Fuchs 1981). Although spices are relatively rare causes of occupational dermatitis today (Kanerva et al. 1996), they should be taken into consideration when assessing the hand dermatitis of workers exposed to spices. 

Delayed (type-IV) allergy to spices manifests as classic allergic contact dermatitis. Immediate (type-I) allergy manifests as contact urticaria or protein contact dermatitis. The primary urticarial reactions may be weak and fade rapidly, and may even go unnoticed by the worker her/himself. Instead, protein contact dermatitis develops (Hjorth and Roed-Petersen 1976 Janssens et al. 1995). The dermatitis caused by spices is situated mostly on the palmar sides of the fingers and hands (Niinimaki et al. 1981 Kanerva et al. 1996). In most cases, spices are one among the many aggravating... 

Any of a wide variety of substances, or environmental conditions which may provoke an allergic reaction such as asthma, hives, or runny nose, when they come in contact with certain tissues. Some of the most common allergens are beverages, foods, spices, pollen, dust, cosmetics, drugs, vaccines, exposure to cold or heat, sunlight, and various emotional states. 

A double-blind, placebo-controlled allergenicity study using aniseed in spice industry workers found positive results in skin prick, and nasal and oral challenge tests. Other case reports of occupational allergic reactions to anise include a psoriasis-Uke allergic contact dermatitis from exposure to the seed oil and allergic asthma from exposure to the seed dust. ... 

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