f336 Jujube

f336 Jujube Scientific Information

Type:

Whole Allergen

Display Name:

Jujube

Allergen code:

f336

Family:

Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn)

Latin Name:

Ziziphus jujuba

Other Names:

Jujube fruit, Azufaifa fruit, Chinese date, Chinese jujube, Chinese red date, Common jujube, Cottony jujube, Indian jujube

Clinical Relevance

IgE-mediated reactions

Anecdotal evidence suggests that Jujube may induce symptoms of food allergy such as urticaria, angioedema, rhinoconjunctivitis, dyspnoea, and wheezing in sensitised individuals; however, few studies have been reported to date. (1, 2)(3)

Two patients described were jujube- and latex-allergic. Both patients had positive skin-test responses and specific IgE assays to Indian jujube and latex extracts. Jujube was shown to be cross-reactive with latex. (2)

Urticaria, angioedema, rhinoconjunctivitis, dyspnoea, wheezing, abdominal pain, and diarrhoea were reported in a 38-year-old latex- and food-allergic nurse after she ate jujube fruit. Her prior food allergy was to banana, chestnut, kiwi and avocado. (1) This co-sensitisation is typical of ‘latex-fruit syndrome’

Other reactions

Perforation of the small bowel due to the pointed pit of the jujube fruit has been described.(4)

Molecular Aspects

No allergens from this plant have yet been characterised.

Proteins of 15 to 60 kDa were detected, but on immunoblotting studies with a patient’s serum, only a single band of around 30 kDa was found. The authors postulated that this protein may represent a chitinase panallergen, but this could not be confirmed. (1)

A more recent report describes the isolation of a 42 kDa Latex protein and a 42 kDa Indian jujube protein from 2 jujube- and latex-allergic subjects. In addition, IgE from 1 subject bound to a 30 kDa Indian jujube protein. (2) The study reported Indian jujube as Zizyphus mauritiana, whereas other sources regard Indian jujube as Ziziphus jujube.

Ziz m 1, a Class 3 chitinase, has been characterised in the close relative Ziziphus mauritiana. (5, 6)

Cross-reactivity

An extensive cross-reactivity among the different individual species of the genus could be expected. (7)

In a study of 2 subjects, both allergic to jujube and latex, cross-reactivity between latex and jujube was demonstrated. The authors suggest that jujube is therefore part of ‘latex-fruit syndrome’. (2)

Compiled By

Last reviewed: April 2022

References

Alvarado MI, Moneo I, Gonzalo MA, Alvarez-Eire M, Díaz-Perales A. Allergy to azufaifa fruit and latex. Allergy. 2002;57(5):460-1.
Lee MF, Chen YH, Lan JL, Tseng CY, Wu CH. Allergenic components of Indian jujube (Zizyphus mauritiana) show IgE cross-reactivity with latex allergen. International archives of allergy and immunology. 2004;133(3):211-6.
Alcantara M, Bartolome E, Pagan JA, et al. Allergy to azufaifo (Ziziphus jujuba) a case of hypersensitivity infrequent. [Abstract] Allergy 2002;55:228.
Lavers GD, Feldmayer JE. JUJUBE. A CASE OF PERFORATED BOWEL. California medicine. 1964;101(3):206-7.
Lee MF, Hwang GY, Chen YH, Lin HC, Wu CH. Molecular cloning of Indian jujube (Zizyphus mauritiana) allergen Ziz m 1 with sequence similarity to plant class III chitinases. Molecular immunology. 2006;43(8):1144-51.
Lee MF, Tsai JJ, Hwang GY, Lin SJ, Chen YH. Identification of immunoglobulin E (IgE)-binding epitopes and recombinant IgE reactivities of a latex cross-reacting Indian jujube Ziz m 1 allergen. Clinical and experimental immunology. 2008;152(3):464-71.
L Y. Botanical relations and immunological cross-reactions in pollen allergy. 2nd ed Pharmacia Diagnostics AB Uppsala Sweden. 1982.