Standardization of Weed Pollen Extracts, Japanese Hop and Mugwort, in Korea

Japanese hop ( Humulusspp.) and mugwort( Artemisiaspp.) are notable causes of autumn pollinosis in East Asia. However, Japanese hop and mugwortpollen extracts, which are widely used for the diagnosis, have not been standardized. This study was performed to standardize Japanese hop and mugwortpollen extracts.Allergen extracts were prepared in a standardized way using locally collected Humulus japonicusand purchased Artemisia vulgarispollens. The immunoglobulin E(IgE) reactivities of prepared extracts were compared with commercial extracts via IgE immunoblotting and inhibition analyses. Intradermal skin tests were performed to determine the bioequivalentallergy unit (BAU).The IgE reactive components of the extracts via IgE immunoblotting were similar to those of commercial extracts. A 11-kDa allergen showed the strongest IgE reactivity in Japanese hop, as did a 28-kDa allergen in mugwortpollen extracts. Allergenic potencies of the investigatory Japanese hop and mugwortextracts were essentially indistinguishable from the commercial ones. Sums of erythema of 50 mm by the intradermal skin test (ΣED50) were calculated to be 14.4th and 13.6th three-fold dilutions for Japanese hop and mugwortextracts, respectively. Therefore, the allergenic activity of the prepared extracts was 90827.4 BAU/mg for Japanese hop and 34412 BAU/mg for mugwort.We produced Japanese hop and mugwortpollen extracts using a standardized method. Standardized Japanese hop and mugwortpollen extracts will facilitate the production of improved diagnostic and immunotherapeutic reagents.