Allergen of the Month—Fringed Sagebrush

Abstract

Artemisia species are important aeroallergen sources in both the Eastern and Western hemispheres. 1 Lewis W.H. Vinay P. Zenger V.E. Airborne and Allergenic Pollen of North America. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore1983 Google Scholar , 2 Bassett I.J. Crompton C.W. Parmalee J.A. An atlas of airborne pollen grains and common fungus spores of Canada. Printing and Publishing, Supply and Services Canada, Hull, Quebec1978 Google Scholar , 3 Wodehouse R.P. Hayfever Plants. 2nd Ed. Hafner, New York1971 Google Scholar At least 19 native and introduced species are found within the United States. [1] Lewis W.H. Vinay P. Zenger V.E. Airborne and Allergenic Pollen of North America. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore1983 Google Scholar Fringed sagebrush, A. frigida, is native to North America, ranging from the Yukon to New Brunswick, and southward through the western states into Mexico, where it is known as estafiata. 1 Lewis W.H. Vinay P. Zenger V.E. Airborne and Allergenic Pollen of North America. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore1983 Google Scholar , 2 Bassett I.J. Crompton C.W. Parmalee J.A. An atlas of airborne pollen grains and common fungus spores of Canada. Printing and Publishing, Supply and Services Canada, Hull, Quebec1978 Google Scholar , 4 Dayton W.A. Range Plant Handbook. Dover Publications, Inc., New York1988 Google Scholar It is also found throughout the Siberian steppes, and is considered native to Eurasia as well, being the most widespread of all Artemisia species. 4 Dayton W.A. Range Plant Handbook. Dover Publications, Inc., New York1988 Google Scholar , 5 Morgan J.A. Milchunas D.G. LeCain D.R. West M. Mosier A.R. Carbon dioxide enrichment alters plant community structure and accelerates shrub growth in the shortgrass steppe. PNAS. 2007; 104: 14724-14729 Crossref PubMed Scopus (166) Google Scholar The species name derives from the cold bleak regions of eastern Siberia, where it was first described. [4] Dayton W.A. Range Plant Handbook. Dover Publications, Inc., New York1988 Google Scholar A. frigida will grow on a variety of sites, to over 11,000 feet (3353 m). Fringed sagebrush is exceedingly responsive to increased CO2 associated with climate change: a doubling of the ambient CO2 results in a 40-fold increase in above ground biomass and a 20-fold increase in ground cover from the shrub. [5] Morgan J.A. Milchunas D.G. LeCain D.R. West M. Mosier A.R. Carbon dioxide enrichment alters plant community structure and accelerates shrub growth in the shortgrass steppe. PNAS. 2007; 104: 14724-14729 Crossref PubMed Scopus (166) Google Scholar Spreading of A. frigida is also potentiated by having allelopathic effects, and inhibition of grass root and shoot growth has been shown. [6] Li X.F. Wang J. Xu W.B. Wang K. Allelopathic effects of Artemisia frigida on three Poaceae plants seed germination and seedling growth. Ying Yong Sheng Tai Xue Bao. 2010; 21: 1702-1708 PubMed Google Scholar Essential oil of A. frigida is fragrant, with high content of camphor and cineol, and has antiseptic and antioxidant properties. 4 Dayton W.A. Range Plant Handbook. Dover Publications, Inc., New York1988 Google Scholar , 7 Lopes-Lutz D. Alviano D.S. Alviano C.S. Kolodziejczyk P.P. Screening of chemical composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Artemisia essential oils. Phytochemistry. 2008; 69: 1732-1738 Crossref PubMed Scopus (427) Google Scholar