pheophorbide-a and Food-Hypersensitivity

In an outbreak of food poisoning involving a dried purple laver product (called nori), four persons had allergic-like symptoms such as inflammation and red rash on their face, mouth and belly. The causative nori was extracted and smeared on the arm-skin of five volunteers. Three out of five volunteers had a slight allergic reaction after 5 to 30 min when they were exposed to sunlight. The levels of the chlorophyll derivatives, pheophorbide a and pyropheophorbide a, measured by HPLC were 851-906 and 5,460-5,624 microg/g, respectively, in the causative samples. Judging from the high contents of pyropheophorbide a and pheophorbide a and the symptoms of patients and volunteers, the causative agents were concluded to be the photosensitizers pyropheophorbide a and pheophorbide a.

Topics: Adult; Chlorophyll; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Disease Outbreaks; Food Hypersensitivity; Foodborne Diseases; Humans; Male; Photosensitizing Agents; Seaweed

Swelling followed by erythematopurpuric lesions on sun-exposed areas of the body developed in five patients. All patients were found to have ingested chlorella. The histopathologic changes consisted of swelling of endothelial cells and thrombosis of small blood vessels in the dermis and the subcutaneous fatty tissue. The photosensitizing agent contained in chlorella tablets was proved to be pheophorbide -a and its ester.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Chlorella; Chlorophyll; Diet Fads; Female; Food Hypersensitivity; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Photosensitivity Disorders