Useful for pharmacy students

1. “Natural allergens,
Photosensitizing agents and
Fungal toxin”
Dr. U.Srinivasa ,
Professor and Head
Dept of Pharmacognosy and Phytopharmaceuticals.
Srinivas college of Pharmacy, Mangalore
Email –drsrinivaspharmacy@rediffmail.com

2. Introduction
Allergens are inciting agents of allergy i.e.
The substances capable of sensitizing the
body in such a way that an unusual response
occurs , in hypersensitive person.
It may be of biologic, chemical, or of
synthetic origin.
The substance such as pollens, dander's, dust
etc. as natural allergens.
Allergens are protein or glycoprotein .
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NATURAL ALLERGENS

3. Allergenic extracts
Theses are the substances used for
diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases
and are concentrated solutions or
suspensions of allergens
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4. TYPES OF ALLERGENS
INHALANT ALLERGENS
INGESTANT ALLERGENS
INJECTANT ALLERGENS
CONTACTANT ALLERGENS
INFECTANT ALLERGENS
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5. I. Inhalant allergens
 Inhalant allergens are air borne substances
as chemicals, causing respiratory disease,
inflammation in nose and lungs.
 Inhalant allergies caused by environmental
factors such as pollen, pets, house dust,
mites and moulds. .
 Inflammation in nose & lungs may cause Hay
fever and Asthma.
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6. Symptoms
 Sneezing
 Lacrimation
 Coughing and post nasal
drip
 Itching eyes, nose and
throat.
 Allergic shiner
 Allergic salute
 Watering eyes,
conjunctivitis.
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DUST MITES
CYNODON DACTYLON

7. II.Ingestant allergens
 Allergens which are present in food stuff and
swallowed are termed ingestant (food
allergy).
 A food allergy is an immune system response
to a food.
 When foods are digested and the nutrients
are absorbed, substances in the food
(ingestant allergens) stimulate allergic
response. These reactions cause a number of
allergic symptoms.
 Some most common food allergens ingested
by patients are milk, egg, peanut, fish,
shellfish, soy, wheat, orange juice, cod liver
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8. Symptoms
 Food allergens
ordinarily cause GIT
symptoms, but they
may also cause
 Skin rash
 Puffed lips and tongue
 Migraine
 Rhinitis
 Bronchial asthma
 Severe cases of eczema
of hands. 8
FOOD ALLERGENS

9. III. Injectant allergens
 The injectants (injectable preparations and
insects) cause allergy in hypersensitive
hypersensitive person, allergic conditions
is known injectants allergy.
 Symptoms
I. Itching of the palms of hands and soles of
feet
II. Erythema
III. Peeling of skin
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10.  The natural sources of injectable allergens
are produced by the sting of bees, hornets
and wasps.
 In addition to penicillin products, other
injectable that may cause allergies are liver
extract, antitoxins and the glandular
products.
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STING OF BEES

11. IV. Contactant allergens
 "Any allergens they produce manifestation
of hypersensitivity at the site of skin or
other mucous".
 Aeroallergens, such as the various pollen
pollen grains containing oils, trichomes
from various leaves, flowers and small
fragments of plants tissue carried by smoke
originating from brush fires, grass fires and
burning leaves are also cause for contact
allergens.
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12. fig. Parthenium hysterophorus
 A Number of plants products used as
additives in cosmetics and perfumes are
irritants and cause skin allergy to some
hypersensitive individuals.
 Wool fat in cosmetics, soap and soap
powders, plain detergents and enzyme
detergents, nail polishes, hair dye and hair
spray are also included among the major
cause of contact dermatitis.
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13. V. Infectant allergens
Allergy caused by the metabolic product of
living micro-organism in the human body.
 The continual presence of certain types of
bacteria, protozoa's, molds, helminths and
other parasites in the body of human being
are responsible for chronic infection.
 In such patient bacterial metabolic waste
are considered to be infectant allergens.
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14. Photosensitizing Agents
 Photosensitivity may be defined as the
hyper sensitivity to sun light caused by
the presence of photodynamic or
photosensitizer substances in the
body. The agents which causes
photosensitivity are photosensitizing
agents.
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15.  Photosensitizing reaction
 The photosensitizing agent has property
to fluorescence on exposure to visible
light it absorbs a quantum of energy and
the molecule becomes activated.
 This energy is transferred to other
molecules such as amino acids, histamine,
tryptophan and tyrosine, which in turn
become activated; subsequently
decompose or undergo further chemical
reactions.
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16. Photosensitizing reactions
1.PHOTOALLERGY
2.PHOTOPHOBIA
3.PHOTOTOXICITY
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17.  Photoallergy is an allergic reaction of the
skin to UV light.
 Photophobia is a fear or strong desire to
avoid all light sources based on a painful
sensitivity of the eyes to strong light.
 Phototoxicity is an irritation of the skin
after exposure to UV light.
 Immediate reactions may include itching,
burning, swelling, and rashes. 17

18. Classification of photosensitizer
 Photosensitizer can be divided into two main groups;
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PHOTODYNAMIC
PHOTOSENSITIZING

19. Photodynamic Photosensitizer
 Photodynamic agents require oxygen for
their action.
 This group include photodynamic dyes,
hypericin, phagoprin, bengal rose,
erythrosine, quinine.
 These substances photo-oxidize
terpenene, blood serum and cause
haemolysis.
 They are topically inactive but on intra-
dermal injection causes immediate
photoreaction of short duration.
 The decrease in temperature of irradiation
inhibits the photosensitization effect. 19

20. Photosensitizing photosensitizer
 It do not require oxygen for reaction.
 These are polylines ( Acetylenes,
thiophenes and related compounds )
furanocoumarins, and their derivatives.
 These compound neither cause photo-
oxidation of terpenene or haemolysis.
 Temperature of irradiation has no effect on
photosensitization activity of these
compounds.
 Photosensitizer combined with ultraviolet
light may also contribute to other health
problems, including skin cancer,
photoaging and allergic reactions.
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21. Photosenseitizing therapy
 Use in treatment of vitiligo disease, in which
melanin formation is deficient.
 Extract of Ammi majus L or juice of the fruits of
Psoralea corylifolia, that have long been used in
in treatment of vitiligo.
 Extract is either given orally or painted on the
unpigmented spot of the patient.
 The patient is then exposed to sunlight for 1-2 hrs.
 Development of a strong brown color after 2 days.
 The joint action of medicine and irradiation, is called
photochemotherapy. 21

22. Photodynamic Theraphy
 Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is based on the
discovery that certain chemicals can kill one celled
in the presence of light.
 PDT is as a bio-component therapy method.
 PDT method for treatment of tumor diseases
using original domestic photosensitizing agents.
 Selectivity of PDT effect on malignant tissues is
ensured primarily through accumulation of
photosensitizing agents and pro-sensitizer in
tumor tissues due to more intensive blood supply
of tumors.
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23. FUNGAL TOXINS
 The toxic substances produced by fungi
are called as fungal toxins.
 Fungal toxins are one of secondary
metabolites which have harmful effects
on human and other animals.
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24. Health effects of fungal toxins
 1. Potent carcinogen
 2. Immunosuppressive
 3. Acute renal failure
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25. Introduction
 Mycotoxin are chemicals produced by
fungi, molds under certain conditions.
 They are essential for fungal growth and
reproduction and toxic to human and
animals.
 More than 250 toxins
 Disease caused by mycotoxins are called
mycotoxicosis.
 Disease caused by mold infection are
called mycosis.
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26. Aflatoxin
 Aflatoxin is produced by Aspergillus
parasiticus and A. flavus.
 There are 5 important aflatoxins called
aflatoxin B1,B2,G1,G2 and M.
 Aflatoxins are extremely toxic and their target
organ is liver.
 Aflatoxin B1 is three times more toxic than G1
and is the most potent naturally occurring
Liver carcinogen.
 Aflatoxin exposure depresses the immune
system and may cause abortion.
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27. Sterigmatocystin
 It is produced by certain species of
Aspergillus versicolor.
 The toxic effects of sterigmatocystin are
much the same as those of aflatoxin B1.
 It is thus considered as a potent Liver
carcinogen,
 Toxic effects of sterigmatocystin-fed
laboratory animals have included kidney and
liver damage and diarrhoea.
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28. Ergotoxin
 Ergot or ergot fungi refers to a group of fungi
of the genus Claviceps.
 The most prominent member of this group is
Claviceps purpurea. This fungus grows on rye
and related plants, and produces alkaloids
that can cause ergotismin humans and other
mammals.
 The neurotropic activities of the ergot
alkaloids may also cause hallucinations.
 Ergot cause CNS and peripheral disorders.
 It cause tangerine and abortion in pregnant
females.
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29. Ochratoxin
 It is produced by Aspergillus ochraceus and
even by penicilium viridicatum .
 Ochratoxin A has been associated the disease
known balkan nephropathy. (kidney damage
that slowly progresses over 10 to 20 years to
kidney failure.)
 Ochratoxin formation is favoured by cold
temperature below 50º F and has been found
on cheese cake.
 The target organ seems to be kidney followed
by liver. Ochratoxin B is non-toxic.
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