Characterization of Pana g 1, an important cause of pollen-food allergy syndrome from Korean ginseng, Panax ginseng

Background: Ginseng is a widely consumed herbal supplement. However, ginseng, especially raw ginseng, can cause allergic reactions, including pollen-food allergy syndrome (PFAS). This study aimed to identify the PFAS-causative allergen in Korean ginseng and to establish methods for its quantification. Methods: Candidate allergens were screened using genomic and transcriptomic analyses. Proteomic profiling with patient sera was performed to identify the clinically relevant allergen. A recombinant protein was generated, and its allergenicity compared with the primary sensitizer, Que ac 1, by ELISA. A two-site ELISA was developed for the quantification of the ginseng allergen using monoclonal antibodies against recombinant protein. Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mass spectrometry was applied for validation. Results: Genome and transcriptome analysis identified 4 candidate allergens: pathogenesis-related 10 (PR-10) protein, profilin, non-specific lipid transfer protein (nsLTP), and thaumatin-like protein. Among these, PR-10 (designated Pana g 1) was the sole allergen detected by proteomic analysis. Recombinant Pana g 1 was recognized by 4 of 5 patients. Inhibition ELISA showed stronger IgE reactivity to Que ac 1 than to Pana g 1, with marked cross-reactivity between the 2. Pana g 1 levels in ginseng extract were quantified as 4.26 μg/mg of protein by ELISA and 4.54 μg/mg by MRM in the ginseng extract. Conclusion: Pana g 1 is the major PFAS-causative allergen in Korean ginseng. Recombinant Pana g 1 shows promise as a diagnostic tool for ginseng-induced PFAS. The quantification systems established here may also support standardization of ginseng extracts and allergen monitoring.