Dictionary of Allergies .. Bamboo shoot [(L) Phyllostachys pubescens

Bamboo shoot [(L) Phyllostachys pubescens

Plant of the Graminae family.  In Asian cookery, bamboos have been practiced for thousands of years.  Several species of bamboo are eaten fresh in season or canned [1]. Six compounds were isolated from leaves of Phyllostachys pubescens, and identified as vanillin (I), syringic aldehyde (II), p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (III), vanillic acid (IV), syringic acid (V), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy cinnamic acid, ethyl ester (VI) [2]. Food allergy to bamboo has been reported (atopic dermatitis, rhinitis and asthma with elevated total and specific IgE antibodies to bamboo).  It has been also reported delayed hypersensitivity reactions. Purple bamboo salt is a specially processed salt according to the traditional recipe using normal salt and bamboo etc. It has been used as a folk medicine for the purpose of prevention and treatment of various diseases in Korea. Shin HY, et al (2004) described an inhibitory effect of purple bamboo salt on mast cell-mediated immediate-type allergic reactions. f51 is the symbol of Bamboo shoot in RATS.

References

1. Allergy. Which Allergens? Food of Plant Origin.  Kabi pharmacia Diagnostics. 1993; p.53.

2. Zhou HY, Zhang H, Li SM. Chemical constituents from leaves of Phyllostachys pubescens I

Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2005 Dec;30(24):1933-4.

3. Shin HY, Na HJ, Moon PD, Shin T, Shin TY, Kim SH, Hong SH, Kim HM. Inhibition of mast cell-dependent immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions by purple bamboo salt. J Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Mar;91(1):153-7.