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Kiwifruit
| Common name: | Kiwi, kiwifruit, zespri, Chinese Gooseberry, Kiwi Berry, Yang-Tao |
| Botanical name: | Actinidia chinensis |
| Family: | Actinidiaceae |
| Origin: | South east China |
| Description: | Actinidia chinensis is one of 30 species of hardy and tender, deciduous, climbing plants that are natives of eastern Asia. A. chinensis (also known as A. deliciosa) is a tender, large vine that can reach a height of 8 meters. Its shoots are thickly covered with reddish hairs and its large, heart-shaped leaves grow from 15-25 cm long and up to 20 cm wide. In late summer, clusters of fragrant, 2-3cm flowers are produced. They are cream turning buff-yellow. Its edible, fuzzy-skinned fruits are green, eventually turning brown. |
| Uses: | Used as a food. The vines are great for growing on trellises, along fences, covering walls, or tall stumps. |
| Allergens: | The main allergen present in the fruit is the proteinase actinidin. It is one of a group of plant thiol proteinases to which papain, ficin, and stem bromelain also belong. Actinidin is composed of at least two proteolytic enzymes. Of increasing concern is the cross-reaction between these proteolytic enzymes and natural rubber latex. Individuals who have developed contact urticaria from exposure to natural latex (usually from wearing rubber gloves), need to avoid eating and handling Kiwi fruit. |
| Allergy: | Urticaria (type I hypersensitivity), immediate contact urticaria, allergic contact dermatitis, irritant contact dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, oral allergy syndrome as well as asthma |
| Cross reactions: | Natural rubber latex protein. |
| Other information: | It was originally grown in the Anbgtze Valley of southern China. The first commercial planting in New Zealand was in 1934 at Te Puke. |
| Patch test: | Prick test through fruit. Leaf as is, outer components of vine and fruit. |
References
(to follow)
- Botanical Dermatology Database.
- Dore P, Breuil K, Meurice JC, Veron O, Underner M, Patte F. [Allergy to kiwi: an unrecognized allergy]. Allerg Immunol (Paris). 1990 Jan;22(1):20-1. French.
- Eriksson NE. Clustering of foodstuffs in food hypersensitivity. An inquiry study in pollen allergic patients. Allergol Immunopathol (Madr). 1984 Jan-Feb;12(1):28-32.
- Falliers CJ. Anaphylaxis to Kiwi fruit and related "exoti"" items. J Asthma. 1983;20(3):193-6.
- Fine AJ. Hypersensitivity reaction to kiwi fruit (Chinese gooseberry, Actinidia chinensis). J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1981 Sep;68(3):235-7.
- Freeman GL. Cooccurrence of latex and fruit allergies. Allergy Asthma Proc. 1997 Mar-Apr;18(2):85-8.
- Gall H, Kalveram KJ, Forck G, Sterry W. Kiwi fruit allergy: a new birch pollen-associated food allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1994 Jul;94(1):70-6.
- Garcia BE, de la Cuesta CG, Santos F, Feliu X, Cordoba H. A rare case of food allergy: monosensitivity to kiwi (Actinidia chinensis). Allergol Immunopathol (Madr). 1989 Jul-Aug;17(4):217-8.
- Gastaminza G, Bernaola G, Camino ME. Acute pancreatitis caused by allergy to kiwi fruit. Allergy. 1998 Nov;53(11):1104-5.
- Gavrovic-Jankulovic M, cIrkovic T, Vuckovic O, Atanaskovic-Markovic M, Petersen A, Gojgic G, Burazer L, Jankov RM. Isolation and biochemical characterization of a thaumatin-like kiwi allergen. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2002 Nov;110(5):805-810.
- Ishida T, Murai K, Yasuda T, Satou T, Sejima T, Kitamura K. [Oral allergy syndrome in patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis]. Nippon Jibiinkoka Gakkai Kaiho. 2000 Mar;103(3):199-205. Japanese.
- Larese Filon F, Bosco A, Fiorito A, Negro C, Barbina P. Latex symptoms and sensitisation in health care workers. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2001 Apr;74(3):219-23.
- Lovell CR.1993, Plants and the Skin, Blackwell, Oxford.
- Mancuso G, Berdondini RM. Oral allergy syndrome from kiwi fruit after a lover's kiss. Contact Dermatitis. 2001 Jul;45(1):41.
- Mitchell JC, Rook A, 1979, Botanical Dermatology, Plants and Plant products injurious to the skin, Greengrass, Vancouver.
- Moller M, Kayma M, Vieluf D, Paschke A, Steinhart H. Determination and characterization of cross-reacting allergens in latex, avocado, banana, and kiwi fruit. Allergy. 1998 Mar;53(3):289-96.
- Pastorello EA, Pravettoni V, Ispano M, Farioli L, Ansaloni R, Rotondo F, Incorvaia C, Asman I, Bengtsson A, Ortolani C. Identification of the allergenic components of kiwi fruit and evaluation of their cross-reactivity with timothy and birch pollens. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1996 Sep;98(3):601-10.
- Rademaker M. Allergic contact dermatitis from kiwi fruit vine (actinidia chinensis). Contact Dermatitis. 1996 Mar;34(3):221-2.
- Rance F, Dutau G. [Asthma and food allergy: report of 163 pediatric cases]. Arch Pediatr. 2002 Aug;9 Suppl 3:402s-407s. French.
- Rance F, Dutau G. Labial food challenge in children with food allergy. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 1997 Feb;8(1):41-4.
- Saraclar Y, Cetinkaya F, Tuncer A, Sekerel B, Hovanec-Burns D, Unver E. Latex sensitivity among hospital employees and atopic children. Turk J Pediatr. 1998 Jan-Mar;40(1):61-8.
- Shimizu T, Morikawa A. Anaphylaxis to kiwi fruit in a 12-year-old boy. J Asthma. 1995;32(2):159-60
- Veraldi S, Schianchi-Veraldi R. Contact urticaria from kiwi fruit. Contact Dermatitis. 1990 Apr;22(4):244.
- Voitenko V, Poulsen LK, Nielsen L, Norgaard A, Bindslev-Jensen C, Skov PS. Allergenic properties of kiwi-fruit extract: cross-reactivity between kiwi-fruit and birch-pollen allergens. Allergy. 1997 Feb;52(2):136-43.
- Yamamoto T, Kukuminato Y, Nui I, Takada R, Hirao M, Kamimura M, Saitou H, Asakura K, Kataura A. [Relationship between birch pollen allergy and oral and pharyngeal hypersensitivity to fruit]. Nippon Jibiinkoka Gakkai Kaiho. 1995 Jul;98(7):1086-91. Japanese.
- Zina AM, Bundino S. Contact urticaria to actinidia chinensis. Contact Dermatitis. 1983 Jan;9(1):85.