Applied Palynology

Some important applied aspects are : In ancient times : recognised the importance of pollen by Assyrian artisans in 717 B.C. ancient Indians use pollen bath of Indian laburnum (Cassia fistula) Egyptians use pollen powder for face skin cure. Human food : American Indians use pollens of Typha for preparing pollen soup. Some tribes of New Zealand, India and Pakistan use Typha pollens as food. Bee collected pollens are source of vitamin B and C as well as Vitamin D & E. Medicine : Ancient Arabs use Lycopodium spores to cure stomach disorders. Spores of Adiantum Philippines are used in leprosy and other skin diseases Pollens of Typha laxmanii are astringent and styptic. Pollens of Cycas circinalis are narcotic. Pollen Allergy : the term allergy was first used by Piquet to indicate altered specific reactivity of all kinds. Some important diseases caused by pollens are o Hay fever (allergic rhinitis) : symptoms include profuse watery nasal discharge with sneezing, red and irritated eye and headache. It is caused by the plants belonging to Gymnosperms (Ginkgo biloba, Juniperus mexicana, Pinus contorta, Thuja plicata, etc.), Angiosperms ( Dicot : Acer, Amaranthus, Ambrosia, Xanthium, Chrysanthemum, Cannabis, Carica papaya, Casuarina, Chenopodium, Acacia, Eucalyptus, Rumes, Ranunculus, etc : Monocots : Phonenix, Juncus, Luzula, avena, Cynodon, Poa, Secale, Zea, Sorghum, Typha, etc). Ambrosia pollen are most allergenic. o Anaphylactic shock (Anaphylaxis) : It is the most severe allergic reactions. Symptoms include sudden vasomotor collapse, shock and paroxysmal bronchio-constriction. If immediate treatment not given, it may lead to death. Allergens associated belonged to Ambrosia and Chrysanthemum etc. o Asthma : Extrinsic asthma may be caused by pollens, spores of Acer, Populus, Ambosia, Cynodon, Moru, Acacia, Quercus, Astragalus, Amaranthus, Fraxinus, Olea etc. o Dermatitis (inflammatory reaction of the skin) : It has two types irritant dermatitis and photodermatitis. Irritant dermatitis caused by Narcissus, Urticca, Laportea, Urera, Ranunculus, Ananas etc. Photodermatitis are caused by Anona, Plumeria, Bassica, Ananas, Carica, Acacia, Jatropha, Allium, Ranunculus, Solanum, Capsicum etc. Class Note (Botany Department) G.P. Womens College Page 1

Hydrocarbons

Primary components Myrcene Limonene Phellandrene

Alcohols

Ketones Phenols Quinones Oleoresins

Geraniol Linalool Citronellol Santalol Camphor Carvone Thujone Anethole Eugenol Primin Uroshiol Capsaicin Asafoetida Found in pollen

Oleoresins

Plants Humulus lupulus Carum carvi Citrus sp. Mentha spicata Cinnamomm zeylanicum Pelagonium sp Coriandrum sativum Eucalyptus citriodora Santalum album Cinnamomum camphora Mentha spicata Artemesia puligeoides Foeniculum vulgare Eugenia caryophyllis Primula obconica Anacardium occidentale Mangifera indica Capsicum frutescens Ferula asafoetida Acer pseudoplatanus Ambrosia Fraxinus Erigeron Iva Mangfera Populus Xanthium

Chemical analysis of pollen wall indicated that some proteins are present below the apertures in the intine or in the exine. These chemicals are water soluble and when in contact with the mucosa of the skin of man, get released within a few seconds. These chemicals caused allergy. E.g. Ra, Ra3 and Ra5 found in Ambrosia. Control measures : o Prevention : avoidance of the allergenic pollens; elimination of the plants; filtering of aeroallergens by appropriate air conditioning etc. o Prophylactic measures : injection of increasing amount of allergen to develop higher level of antibodies; administration of antihistamines, ephedrine, corticosteroids etc.

Class Note (Botany Department) G.P. Womens College

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