Description
Bamboo Shoot Allergy Test
Code: f51
Latin name: Phyllostachys pubescens
Source material: Fresh shoot
Family: Poaceae
Common names: Bamboo shoot, Pubescent Bamboo, Moso, Madake, Hachiku
Bamboo shoot is a food which may result in allergy symptoms in sensitised individuals.
Bamboo Shoot Allergy Test: Allergen Exposure
Bamboo is a tall sturdy grass related to maize and wheat which is cultivated both for its edible young shoots and also for use as a construction material when mature. It is principally grown in Japan and China, and the shoots are harvested in early spring.
Bamboo grows in woodland and cultivated groves, but requires special damp, steadily warm, sheltered and rich-soiled conditions.
The tender-crisp, ivory-coloured shoots of the bamboo are edible. They are used in numerous Asian broths and other dishes, and are available in supermarkets in various sliced forms, both canned and fresh. Fermented bamboo shoots, called khorisa, are an important ingredient in certain cuisines. The shoots of some species must be cooked before eating, as they contain hydrocyanic acid that can cause cyanide poisoning.
Like other grasses, bamboo has stems containing sugar, and syrup is made from them. The traditional Taiwanese manner of preparing this food involves fermenting the stems. They are most often used as an ingredient in traditional Asian dishes, but may be a garnish on other foods as well.
Bamboo is used in Chinese medicine for treating infections. The leaves are used in the treatment of arthritic inflammations. The sheaths of the stem are a treatment for nausea and sour stomach.
Bamboo Shoot Allergy Test: Allergen Description
No allergens from this plant have yet been characterised.
Bamboo Shoot Allergy Test: Potential Cross-Reactivity
An extensive cross-reactivity among the different individual species of the genus could be expected, as well as to a certain degree among members of the family Poaceae.
Bamboo Shoot Allergy Test: Clinical Experience
Anecdotal evidence suggests that Bamboo can occasionally induce symptoms of food allergy in sensitised individuals; however, few studies have been reported to date.
IgE antibodies to Bamboo have been reported in patients with atopic dermatitis, rhinitis and asthma. Bamboo shoots have also been suspected of contributing to allergic symptoms in agricultural workers in Japan.
Other reactions
Contact allergy and delayed hypersensitivity has also been reported.