Press release Adinolfi

Allergenic potential of the plant species commonly used in urban and peri-urban forests in a Mediterranean Zone

Cristiano Adinolfi, a master student of the Parthenope University of Naples (Italy) visited the Department of Botany of the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Granada (Spain) funded with a STSM of the COST Action FP1204. The objective was to develop a database which includes the main parameters that influence the allergenic potential of trees in urban and peri-urban forests in a Mediterranean zone. The species were classified into three groups: Angiosperms, Gymnosperms and Palm Trees and in each record included: scientific name, botanical family, common name, bioclimatic zone, sexuality, strategy and duration of pollination and potential allergenicity. The maximum value of potential allergenicity is associated to taxa with wind-pollinated strategy and a reference as main allergen in the area. This occurs in 19% of Angiosperms, 18% of Palm Trees but 100% of Gymnosperms. The information collected in this database can contribute to prevent and / or correct the impact of highly allergenic species in urban areas. It is recommended to avoid planting male individuals of dioecious species and to replace species with greater contribution to the overall allergenicity.