UniLag botanists identify pollen, spores of Nigerian plants that trigger asthma

Scientists from the Department of Botany, University of Lagos Palynological Research Team with support from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) have identified pollens and spores from Nigerian plants that trigger allergies such as asthma.

The findings from the research would be made public during a one-day pre-project workshop entitled: “The Allergenic Activities of Pollen and Spores of Nigerian Plants and their Spatial Pattern”.

The workshop scheduled for Tuesday, November 22, 2016, between 8:30am-2.00pm at the Julius Berger Hall, University of Lagos, promises to propagate the research study in all its ramification through awareness creation, build a list of potential interest group in terms of checklist of issues, opinions, contributors, funders, Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), among others.

Chairman Local Organizing Committee, who is the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics and Research and a professor of Botany, Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, and the Principal Investigator, Dr. Olusola Adekanmbi, told The Guardian that until now, airborne pollen has been widely studied as allergens globally and are important cause of pollinosis. The type and concentration of airborne pollen vary in different seasons, depending upon the flowering of the parent plants and climatic factors, which are quite variable in different geographical regions of the world.

Ogundipe said: “On an immunological response to pollen allergen, the immune system makes immunoglobulin E antibodies, which attach to immune cells to undergo degranulation. This triggers the cells to release histamine and other inflammatory mediators which elicit symptoms of allergy, including wheezing, runny nose, itching, rashes, sneezing, amongst others. These symptoms range from mild to life threatening symptoms and could either be localized or systemic.

“The increasing prevalence of allergic diseases over past decades is well established and accepted by most authorities, including the World Health Organisation. Several results have indicated an escalation in the prevalence of allergic diseases especially asthma. Atmospheric pollen and spores are the major culprits in asthma exacerbation. They bio-accumulate gaseous pollutants leading to increased allergenicity. As regional climate changes, atmospheric circulation blow pollen and spores with dust to new areas, thus introducing people to allergies to which they have not been exposed previously. With the recent campaign in the cultivation of introduced plant species, there has been an introduction of new airborne pollen contributors.”

Ogundipe said Nigeria like other countries in the world is directly exposed to climate change through a change in weather pattern. In the last 20 to 30 years, the prevalence of allergic diseases has escalated significantly, a trend that shows no signs of abating as both rural and urban dwellers are affected.

Reports have shown that no fewer than 50 million Nigerians are suffering from asthma. This has not only become a national problem but international. The evidence from patients and stakeholders agree that access to diagnosis, treatment, education, information and continued research should be a priority for health authorities.

However, the absence of large scale epidemiological studies on prevalence has thus far prevented most authorities from understanding the extent and issue and taking the steps necessary to commission the requisite services.

According to Ogundipe, the atmosphere receives continuously pollen and spores dispersed into it by various mechanisms such as wind. Aerobiological investigations revealed that they are the most abundant organic particles dispersed in the atmosphere. Their allergies are more difficult to diagnose and treat than other allergies because they are more numerous and antigenically variable than other allergens and exceedingly difficult to avoid.

Avoidance of allergenic pollen and spores is based on knowledge gained from quantification of their temporal distribution, length and duration of their occurrence in the air, peak periods, and high/low risk periods throughout the year. These are crucial in reducing epidemiological uncertainty and deriving robust set of mitigation/adaptative strategies and also as a prophylactic approach to the problem of respiratory allergies. The burden of allergic diseases to governments, health care systems, families and patients increases worldwide.

The botanist said despite the ubiquitous nature of these allergens, their great aerodynamic properties and implications in allergic reactions, virtually no attention has been given to survey their pattern of spatial distribution all over the atmosphere of Nigeria. Also, no allergenicity study on Nigerian plants has been conducted.

Ogundipe said this was what informed the study and the workshop. He said the event will feature the following invited speakers and topics:

*Professor Sowunmi, M.A. (Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Ibadan): Role of Pollen in Health Care Delivery and Socio-Economic Development.

*Professor Nwawolo, C.C. (Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Lagos): Allergic Rhinitis: Consequence of Environmental Triggers.

*Dr. Onakoya, A.O. (Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos): Allergic Conjunctivitis: A Sequel of Environmental Allergens.

*Dr. Adeiga, A. (Department of Microbiology, Mountain Top University): Aeropollens: The Environmental Triggers of Allergic Reactions of Public Health Importance.

*Dr. Soneye, A.S.O. (Department of Geography, University of Lagos): Nigerian Air Quality and Allergenicity.
*Dr. Ezike, D.N. (For the Team): Allergenic Activities of Pollen and Spores of Nigerian Plants and their Spatial Pattern.