Disease relevance of Cupressaceae

• IgE-mediated allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis caused by Calocedrus decurrens (incense cedar) [1].
• Leaves of Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana L. Cupressaceae) have been reported to contain podophyllotoxin, a pharmaceutical compound used to manufacture drugs for treatment of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, genital warts, psoriasis, and multiple sclerosis [2].

High impact information on Cupressaceae

• Western blot analysis showed that Pla a 2 is present in pollen and stems and has IgG cross-reactivity with a PG from tomato and pectate lyases from Cupressaceae pollen [3].
• IgE screening of the library was performed with a pool of sera from subjects allergic to Cupressaceae [4].
• High-resolution 13C MAS NMR spectroscopy was used to profile a range of primary and secondary metabolites in vivo in intact whole seeds of eight different conifer species native to North America, including six of the Pinaceae family and two of the Cupressaceae family [5].
• There was a statistically significant correlation between simultaneous weekly average pollen levels in Philadelphia and in Cherry Hill (Acer, r(p) = 0.987, Quercus, r(p) = 0.645, Betula, r(p) = 0.896, Pinus, r(p) = 0.732, Cupressaceae, r(p) = 0.695, Poaceae, r(p) = 0.950, Ambrosia, r(p) = 0.903, and Rumex, r(p) = 0.572, P <0.001) [6].
• In particular, the MC major allergen, gp40, is cross-reactive with 40 to 42 kD proteins of the other Cupressaceae and with the Japanese cedar major allergen of 46 kD [7].

Associations of Cupressaceae with chemical compounds

• From the leaves of Cupressocyparis leylandii (Cupressaceae) cupressuflavone, 4-O-methylcupressuflavone, amentoflavone, 7-O-methylamentoflavone, 4-O-methylamentoflavone and hinokiflavone were isolated [8].
• The nonpeptide alpha-eudexp6l from Juniperus virginiana Linn. (Cupressaceae) inhibits omega-agatoxin IVA-sensitive Ca2+ currents and synaptosomal 45Ca2+ uptake [9].
• Two new compounds, 15-methoxypinusolidic acid (1) and isonerylgeraniol-18-oic acid (2) together with four knowns taiwaniaflavone (3), nerylgeraniol-18-oic acid (4), 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-1-propanol (5), and amentoflavone (6) are isolated from the leaves of Calocedrus microlepic var. formosana [10].
• Separation and identification of Taxifolin 3-O-glucoside isomers from Chamaecyparis obtusa (Cupressaceae) [11].
• (Cupressaceae), were determined using Artemia salina L [12].

Gene context of Cupressaceae

• Formosadimers A, B, and C from the Bark of Calocedrus macrolepis var. formosana [13].
• (Cupressaceae) and Phyllocladus Rich. ex Mirb [14].
• From 110 patients with respiratory allergies and positive-SPT, only three subjects (2.7%) were SPT-positive to Cupressaceae [15].
• The detection of high levels of Cupressaceae pollen concentration in the air from January to April for several years in our area prompted analysis of the incidence and allergenic significance of sensitivity to this pollen [16].
• In addition, one can speculate that an antigen in Cupressus sempervirens is cross-reactive with SBP, the major allergen of Sugi, suggesting that there is a closer relationship between the Taxodiaceae family and the Cupressaceae family than between these two families and the other families of the gymnosperms [17].

References